$100k a year, no longer in Winston-Salem

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Roanoke, VA cityscape

next stop after winston-salem

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

$22

less monthly outlay than Winston-Salem

Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Roanoke is everything that isn't rent.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

8% cheaper than Winston-Salem(vs $1,508/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$104/mo more in state tax than Winston-Salem

vs 4.5% in Winston-Salem

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$22 more than Winston-Salem

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

04a house here

$296k

5% more expensive than Winston-Salem

vs $283k in Winston-Salem

05metro size

314k

vs 696k in Winston-Salem

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Winston-Salem actually gets more: 186 pleasant days a year.

·outdoorscore

69/100

28% higher than Winston-Salem

vs 54/100 in Winston-Salem

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

·walk score®

94/100

32% higher than Winston-Salem

vs 71/100 in Winston-Salem

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

0% fewer than Winston-Salem

vs 0 nonstops in Winston-Salem

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