Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $44,047 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 47°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($162,000 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1253/mo less ($917 vs $2,170)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $44,047/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$44,047
$95,570 vs $51,523/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
72% lower
171.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$435k less
$162,000 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Roanoke wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $162,000 median home), income ($95,570 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Roanoke, VA are about 754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.