Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 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
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $1278k less ($162,000 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1924/mo less ($917 vs $2,841)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $113,829/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 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $113,829 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Roanoke
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$1278k less
$162,000 vs $1,440,200
Roanoke
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$113,829
$165,352 vs $51,523/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
71% lower
182.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 128,058 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 10 and Santa Clara wins 13. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($51,523 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.