Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 14 of 22 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
14
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Households earn $11,591 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Homes cost $43k less ($162,000 vs $204,800)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($917 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $11,591/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$11,591
$63,114 vs $51,523/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
12% lower
620.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$43k less
$162,000 vs $204,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 14 of 22 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 8 and Roanoke wins 14. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $162,000 median home), income ($63,114 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Roanoke, VA are about 317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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