Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $50,242 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($162,000 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($917 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 4 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 Hoover by $50,242/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Median Income
$50,242
$101,765 vs $51,523/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$204k less
$162,000 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Hoover 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 Hoover to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($101,765 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Roanoke, VA are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.