Best Life Index › States › Virginia › Cities › Roanoke

Virginia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Roanoke?

What it costs to live in Roanoke, and how it compares with other Virginia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

46

57th best value in Virginia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Virginia cities.

Overall livability

23

83rd overall in Virginia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Roanoke is home to about 99,578 people. A typical home runs $140,600 and a household earns around $48,500, a price-to-income ratio of 2.9. Among Virginia's largest cities, it ranks 57th for value and 83rd overall.

Roanoke at a glance

Median home price

$140,600

7th in VA of 90

Median rent

$845/mo

Median household income

$48,500

Home price to income

2.9x

Unemployment

6.4%

79th in VA of 90

School rating

3/10

82nd in VA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in VA of 90

Walk score

11/100

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‹ See all top Virginia cities ranked  ยท  Virginia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Virginia only. Updated 2026.