Roanoke, VA

Census place 5168000 · pop 98,355

D52/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in VA
📍 Virginia ranks #14 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster46/100 · top 9%
🚽 Inequality0.51 · bottom 9%
💡 Did you know?

Crowned by the Roanoke Star, the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, atop Mill Mountain.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.99% property · US 0.99%5.77% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.519

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity41.9%11

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Broadband access85.7%15

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

85.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership52.4%20

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

52.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Median household income$55,37821

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$55,378 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking16.7%21

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate18.3%22

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

18.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)-0.9%24

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-0.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity29.8%26

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

29.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poor mental health18.4%31

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults11.0%38

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Property-tax burden0.99%49

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

0.99% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Bachelor's degree or higher30.0%50

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

30.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$190,50074

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$190,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,361/mo78

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,361/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time19 min81

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level46/10091

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

46/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Roanoke: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Roanoke, VA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Roanoke scores 52/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is income inequality. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Roanoke, VA expensive to live in?
Roanoke has a median home value of $190,500 and typical rent around $1,361/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Roanoke, VA?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.51) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Roanoke, VA best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (46/100) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Crowned by the Roanoke Star, the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, atop Mill Mountain.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.