Below Average CostHigh CrimeRoanoke City Public Schools
Roanoke City (Virginia) from Mill Mountain Star at Dusk · Joe Ravi / CC BY-SA 3.0Roanoke star · Ben Schumin / CC BY-SA 3.0Roanoke City Market, Roanoke, Virginia (49461688771) · Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan / CC BY-SA 2.0Hotel Roanoke Front Entrance · Dstewart21 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Roanoke is a mid-sized city of 99,213 in Virginia, with a median household income of $51,523
and a 6.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% 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, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 90.9
Roanoke's overall cost of living index is 90.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Roanoke costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Roanoke, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$162,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$917
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,523
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Roanoke's violent crime rate is 620.4 per 100,000 residents
— 63% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
620.4 /100k
Property Crime
4055.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Roanoke is served primarily by Roanoke City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Roanoke, VA
National Avg
School District
Roanoke City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
17
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Roanoke sees average highs of 47.1°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 14.8 inches of snow per year.
Roanoke's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Roanoke roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $162,000 and median rent is $917/month.
Roanoke's violent crime rate is 620.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4055.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Roanoke are operated by Roanoke City Public Schools.
The district has 17 elementary, 5 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Roanoke, VA has a population of 99,213, a median household income of $51,523, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%.
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 47.1°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.8 inches
with about 14.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Roanoke, VA is covered by 8 ZIP codes: 24012, 24017, 24014, 24015, 24016, 24013, 24011, 24022.
The population of Roanoke, Virginia is 99,213 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Roanoke: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $162,000, median household income $51,523, crime index 175 (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.
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