Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
13
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
30% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $11,471 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($162,000 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($917 vs $1,161)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbus by $11,471/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$11,471
$62,994 vs $51,523/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
30% lower
434.9 vs 620.4 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$51k less
$162,000 vs $212,500
Roanoke
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ 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 | B (97) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 10 and Roanoke wins 13. 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 Columbus to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($62,994 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Roanoke, VA are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.