$100k a year, no longer in Toledo

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of toledo

Roanoke

va · metro 314k

photo: Joseph Fuller / pexels

a dispatch from

roanoke

VA

37.27°N

79.94°W

Roanoke is the Star City of the South, named for the enormous illuminated star on Mill Mountain that's been lighting up the valley since 1949. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right past town. The downtown has come back beautifully with the Taubman Museum, breweries, and a thriving market. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous in every season. Smaller and more scenic than people expect.

metro314k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$332

the monthly cost of moving past Toledo

You'd pay for Roanoke. The question is whether the days are worth the difference.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

15% more expensive than Toledo(vs $1,197/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$147/mo more in state tax than Toledo

vs 3.99% in Toledo

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$332 less than Toledo

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$296k

51% more expensive than Toledo

vs $196k in Toledo

05metro size

314k

vs 600k in Toledo

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Toledo keeps to 159 pleasant days a year.

But the calendar thins out: Toledo stays 2.1× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

25% higher than Toledo

vs 55/100 in Toledo

Closest outdoor draw: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 22.3 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

65% higher than Toledo

vs 57/100 in Toledo

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

125% more than Toledo

vs 4 nonstops in Toledo

04 · see also

same energy as roanoke, different zip code:

see also

chattanooga

$337/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

el paso

$388/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

lexington

more flight options

turn the page

compare roanoke with:

ChattanoogaEl PasoLexington