Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $611k less ($162,000 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $1080/mo less ($917 vs $1,997)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 12 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 San Leandro by $45,618/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 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,618 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Roanoke
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$611k less
$162,000 vs $772,700
Roanoke
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$45,618
$97,141 vs $51,523/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
12% lower
548.7 vs 620.4 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 12 of 22 categories. Roanoke wins 10 and San Leandro 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 Roanoke to San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $772,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and San Leandro, CA are about 2,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.