$100k salary, packing up from Columbus

change
Roanoke, VA cityscape

swapping out of columbus

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

$18

the monthly premium over Columbus

Barely costlier than Columbus. If Roanoke pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the roanoke entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,382/mo

9% cheaper than Columbus(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

5.75%

$147/mo more in state tax than Columbus

vs 3.99% in Columbus

03after rent

$6,472/mo

$18 less than Columbus

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

04a house here

$296k

15% cheaper than Columbus

vs $350k in Columbus

05metro size

314k

vs 2.2M in Columbus

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

179

pleasant days a year, in roanoke.

Columbus only logs 171 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: Columbus packs 9.7× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

21% higher than Columbus

vs 57/100 in Columbus

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

·walk score®

94/100

11% higher than Columbus

vs 85/100 in Columbus

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

9

72% fewer than Columbus

vs 32 nonstops in Columbus

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