Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 22 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
12
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $3,528 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Roanoke, VA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Greensboro
Homes cost $35k less ($162,000 vs $197,200)
Rent averages $131/mo less ($917 vs $1,048)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 5.5%)
Median income trails Greensboro by $3,528/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Median Income
$3,528
$55,051 vs $51,523/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
33% lower
620.4 vs 923.7 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$35k less
$162,000 vs $197,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 22 categories. Greensboro wins 10 and Roanoke wins 12. 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 Greensboro to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($55,051 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Roanoke, VA are about 82 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.