Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($162,000 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1485/mo less ($917 vs $2,402)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $60,621/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,621 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$542k less
$162,000 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$60,621
$112,144 vs $51,523/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
79% lower
129.1 vs 620.4 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 8 and Simi Valley wins 15. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $704,200 median home), income ($51,523 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Simi Valley, CA are about 2,169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.