Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $61,656 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Roanoke
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($162,000 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1066/mo less ($917 vs $1,983)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $61,656/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$61,656
$113,179 vs $51,523/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
65% lower
219.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$494k less
$162,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria 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 Alexandria to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $162,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Roanoke, VA are about 189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.