Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($162,000 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($917 vs $1,614)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $12,521/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
7% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $12,521 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$163k less
$162,000 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$12,521
$64,044 vs $51,523/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
7% lower
575.8 vs 620.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 9 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $324,800 median home), income ($51,523 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.