Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $644k less ($162,000 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $817/mo less ($917 vs $1,734)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $31,249/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 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
Households earn $31,249 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Roanoke
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$644k less
$162,000 vs $805,500
Roanoke
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$31,249
$82,772 vs $51,523/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
70% lower
185.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 14 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 9 and Urban Honolulu wins 14. 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $805,500 median home), income ($51,523 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.