Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 16 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($162,000 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($917 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $17,810/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 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
66% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $17,810 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$253k less
$162,000 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$17,810
$69,333 vs $51,523/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
66% lower
210.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 16 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 7 and St. George wins 16. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $415,200 median home), income ($51,523 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and St. George, UT are about 1,841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.