$100k a year, no longer in Tucson

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

if you left tucson

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

$209

more expensive each month than Tucson

Roanoke costs more than Tucson, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

4% cheaper than Tucson(vs $1,444/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$271/mo more in state tax than Tucson

vs 2.5% in Tucson

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$209 less than Tucson

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

04a house here

$296k

16% cheaper than Tucson

vs $352k in Tucson

05metro size

314k

vs 1.1M in Tucson

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Tucson gets 202 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

Lighter on events: Tucson packs 2.8× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

5% higher than Tucson

vs 66/100 in Tucson

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

·walk score®

94/100

40% higher than Tucson

vs 67/100 in Tucson

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

44% fewer than Tucson

vs 16 nonstops in Tucson

04 · see also

neighbors of roanoke on the map of tradeoffs:

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