01 · the cities
New York
New York is the city that refuses to take a nap. Five boroughs of bodegas, bagels, late-night dollar slices, and entire neighborhoods that switch languages every six blocks. The subway is a 472-station miracle that runs all night, and Central Park is the green lung that keeps Manhattan sane. You will spend more than you planned and love every minute of it.
full dispatch→Roanoke
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.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$3,329/mo
$1,382/mo
$1,947/mo less than New York (141%)
Median home price
Median home price
$739k
$296k
$443k less than New York
State income tax
State income tax
10.7%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,110/mo
$6,472/mo
Roanoke has $2,362/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
171 days
179 days
8 more than New York
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
2 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
19 days
21 days
days below 20°F per year
New York and Roanoke have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
78 / 100
69 / 100
9.0 pts behind New York
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
215 routes
9 routes
206 fewer direct routes than New York
Metro size
Metro size
19.5M metro
314k metro
New York has 325.6x more events per month than Roanoke.
the verdict
2
New York
categories won
5
Roanoke
categories won
Roanoke wins on money and weather. New York has the edge on lifestyle.
run your numbers
How far does your New York salary go?
Enter your salary to see a full ranked list of cities where you would live better.
see your top citiesWe use a proprietary blend of data from the US Census, Zillow, Ticketmaster, and more.
Walk Score® is a trademark of Walk Score, a Redfin company. How Walk Score works