Roanoke is a small town of 5,346 in Alabama, with a median household income of $43,664
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Roanoke stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Roanoke is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Roanoke city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.7
Roanoke's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Roanoke costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Roanoke, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$111,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$592
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,664
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Roanoke's violent crime rate is 776.2 per 100,000 residents
— 104% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
776.2 /100k
Property Crime
3881.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Roanoke is served primarily by Roanoke City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Roanoke, AL
National Avg
School District
Roanoke City
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Roanoke sees average highs of 54.2°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 56.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Roanoke's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Roanoke roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $111,000 and median rent is $592/month.
Roanoke's violent crime rate is 776.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3881.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Roanoke are operated by Roanoke City.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 13.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Roanoke, AL has a population of 5,346, a median household income of $43,664, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Roanoke averages 54.2°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.4 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Roanoke, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36274.
The population of Roanoke, Alabama is 5,346 with a median age of 43.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Roanoke: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $111,000, median household income $43,664, crime index 196 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Roanoke side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
