$100k a year, no longer in Wilmington

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after wilmington

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

$189

under Wilmington, every month

On paper, Roanoke and Wilmington are twins. In practice they live very differently.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

17% cheaper than Wilmington(vs $1,675/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Wilmington

vs 4.5% in Wilmington

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$189 more than Wilmington

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

04a house here

$296k

34% cheaper than Wilmington

vs $448k in Wilmington

05metro size

314k

vs 467k in Wilmington

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Wilmington gets 235 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

Wilmington hosts 1.7× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

28% higher than Wilmington

vs 54/100 in Wilmington

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

·walk score®

94/100

40% higher than Wilmington

vs 67/100 in Wilmington

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

80% more than Wilmington

vs 5 nonstops in Wilmington

04 · see also

cities that play in roanoke's register:

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