Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
9
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,925 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($162,000 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($917 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $38,925/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$38,925
$90,448 vs $51,523/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
41% lower
364.9 vs 620.4 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$119k less
$162,000 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and Roanoke wins 9. 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 Midland to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $162,000 median home), income ($90,448 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Roanoke, VA are about 1,307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.