© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Roanoke.
About
Life in Roanoke
This is a city built on railroads and now driven by healthcare, sitting right in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a genuine small-city feel despite having nearly 100,000 residents. The Norfolk and Western Railway shaped everything here in the 1880s, turning a tiny town called Big Lick into a booming industrial hub, but that era ended in 2020 when the company moved its final operations out—and Roanoke had the good sense to reinvent itself around Carilion Clinic, now the region's largest employer with over 13,000 jobs, plus a push to market the area's outdoor access as an economic driver. The city's split into 49 distinct neighborhoods, each with their own character—the Raleigh Court area around Grandin Village is the model for what the city's trying to build, walkable and mixed-use with that little historic theater still operating, and downtown has genuinely invested in arts and culture with the Taubman Museum of Art, the Science Museum, and Center in the Square pulling locals in for real things to do beyond scrolling.
Roanoke at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Foreign-Born
8.0%
Broadband Internet
85.7%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.0% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Roanoke: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Roanoke, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (14.9%), and 6.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Households with Kids
23.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.4%
of households
Married Couples
29.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 37% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Roanoke
In Roanoke, rent runs 37% below the VA average, and home values are 50% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,893
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $277,549 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Roanoke
Unemployment in Roanoke is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Roanoke Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Roanoke residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Roanoke, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
Regional airport · few flights417k passengers boarded in 2025
- 115 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 68% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Roanoke runs 68% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
553.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,524.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Roanoke Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Roanoke County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Roanoke, the most common type is high wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | High Wind | $4,500 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Winter Storm | $8,200 |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Storm | $52,500 |
| 2020 | 12 | Flood | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | High Wind | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Flash Flood | $600,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Roanoke city, county-wide
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Salem city, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 5 miles from Roanoke) is typically good — 90 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
31
Good Days
90
per year
Moderate Days
23
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Salem city, VA (5 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Roanoke has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.8"
Annual Snowfall
14.8"
Hot Days/Year
30
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 51°F | 31°F | 2.89" |
| Mar | 59°F | 38°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.49" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 4.31" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.66" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.28" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 3.37" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.06" |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 2.96" |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 50°F | 32°F | 3.08" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Roanoke
Roanoke has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Carilion Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Carilion Medical Center · 1906 Belleview Avenue, Se
- Hospital campus: Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital · 101 Elm Ave Se Fl 7, Roanoke
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Salem VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Salem
Lewisgale Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Salem
Catawba Hospital
Psychiatric · 11.4 mi away · Catawba
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Roanoke
Roanoke's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
29
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Roanoke (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,767 students · in-state tuition $39,208 · 68% graduate · median earnings $64,329 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 665 students · in-state tuition $44,640 · 68% graduate · median earnings $48,102 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 630 students · in-state tuition $11,973 · 23% graduate · median earnings $31,618 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke
4.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 315 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Booker T Washington National Monument, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Roanoke
Roanoke has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Booker T Washington National Monument (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Booker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
60 mi awayAppomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
64 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
70 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
79 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Roanoke
Roanoke City Public Library
706 S. Jefferson Street, Roanoke
Belmont Branch Library
1101 Morningside St. Se, Roanoke
Crystal Spring Branch Library
24th St And Crystal Spring Ave Sw, Roanoke
Gainsboro Branch Library
15 Patton Avenue, Nw, Roanoke
Melrose Branch Library
2607 Salem Turnpike, Nw, Roanoke
Raleigh Court Branch Library
2112 Grandin Road, Sw, Roanoke
Roanoke Law Library
706 S Jefferson St, Roanoke
Williamson Road Branch Library
3837 Williamson Road N.E., Roanoke
Cities Near Roanoke
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Roanoke?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Roanoke FAQ
Is Roanoke, Virginia affordable?⌄
Roanoke's median rent is $996/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,378/year. Median home value is $190,500.
Is Roanoke, Virginia safe?⌄
Roanoke's violent crime rate was 554 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3525 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Roanoke, Virginia?⌄
Roanoke has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Roanoke, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Roanoke is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $996/month and median household income is $55,378/year. The median home value is $190,500. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Roanoke, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Roanoke is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from