Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Households earn $9,980 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($162,000 vs $246,000)
48% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Rent averages $97/mo less ($917 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Albuquerque
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albuquerque by $9,980/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$9,980
$61,503 vs $51,523/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
48% lower
620.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$84k less
$162,000 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Roanoke wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $162,000 median home), income ($61,503 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Roanoke, VA are about 1,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.