Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($162,000 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1245/mo less ($917 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 23 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $60,194/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,194 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Roanoke
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$455k less
$162,000 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$60,194
$111,717 vs $51,523/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
51% lower
301.4 vs 620.4 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 11 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $617,300 median home), income ($51,523 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Tracy, CA are about 2,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.