RANK #525 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 37 VA · POP 98,355
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Roanoke, Virginia, often called the "Star City of the South," is distinguished by the Roanoke Star, an 88.5-foot-tall illuminated structure atop Mill Mountain that has served as a landmark since 1949. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke is approximately 168 miles west of Richmond. The city offers a blend of urban amenities and natural scenery, with the Blue Ridge Parkway running just south of the city and the Appalachian Trail passing nearby. Commute times are generally short, and public transportation options include Valley Metro bus service and a free downtown trolley. The community provides a relaxed atmosphere for residents.
Life in Roanoke offers affordability and a connection to nature. The city's public school system, Roanoke City Public Schools, serves approximately 14,000 students. Roanoke's economy, historically shaped by the railroad, has diversified. Recent economic developments show growth in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and information technology. The region has also seen investment in infrastructure and efforts to revitalize commercial spaces and support local businesses.
Roanoke city's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.6% YoY, population -0.3%, wages +3.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Botetourt County Data Center Campus
Google
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Stormwater Capital Improvement Projects
City of Roanoke Stormwater Utility
|
$140M | Ongoing |
|
Rocky Forge Wind Farm
Apex Clean Energy
|
$75M | Under Construction |
|
Roanoke Gas Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Facility
Roanoke Gas Company & Western Virginia Water Authority
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Roanoke city scores 47/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#525). Median household income is $55,378 and job growth is running at +1.0%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Roanoke city is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $190,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $996/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Roanoke city are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs +1.0%. Home values shifted +0.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.62% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Roanoke city has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.