Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson 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
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($162,000 vs $218,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tucson
Cons
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
5% less violent crime than Roanoke
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$56k less
$162,000 vs $218,200
Tucson
Median Income
$526
$52,049 vs $51,523/yr
Tucson
Violent Crime
5% lower
588.8 vs 620.4 per 100k
Tucson
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $991 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $52,049 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 11 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $218,200 median home), income ($51,523 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Tucson, AZ are about 1,783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.