Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
11
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,720 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Roanoke
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $758k less ($162,000 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($917 vs $1,853)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $28,720/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$28,720
$80,243 vs $51,523/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
48% lower
322.3 vs 620.4 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$758k less
$162,000 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 12 and Roanoke wins 11. 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 Boulder to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $162,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Roanoke, VA are about 1,373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.