Downtown Roanoke, Virginia 01
Photo: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Living in Roanoke City, Virginia

The metro's downtown core, walkable, with a greenway running along the river. Carilion's hospital and research campus is the big employer here and still growing.

$215,000
Median home
1.22
Tax per $100
84%
Grad rate
Very walkable
Walkability
See what you can afford in Roanoke City →
Downtown Roanoke, Virginia 02
Photo: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Housing market

The median sale price in Roanoke City is $215,000, with most homes between $145,000 and $321,468. A typical home runs None bed / 3,286 sqft (built ~None).

Local starting points

Downtown RoanokeGrandin / Raleigh Court

Home-buying activity

In 2024, lenders financed 1,141 home purchases in Roanoke City, at a median mortgage of $205,000. 69% of new mortgages were purchases rather than refinances.

About 23% of mortgage applications were denied. Source: federal HMDA mortgage data (2024).

Jobs & hiring

A sample of what's open right now at Roanoke Metro-area employers (on-site & remote):

See all open roles & the RBTC job board →

Schools

Roanoke City Public Schools reports a 84% on-time graduation rate, with 55% passing Math and 56% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments (VDOE School Quality Profile).

Roanoke City enrollment →

Before you choose an address

Check a specific address for nearby schools, commute, and services →

Compare school signals across Roanoke Metro →

Amenities & walkability

Within a few miles you'll find about 207 restaurants & cafes and 66 grocery stores. The town center is very walkable (109 walkable spots within a mile). Counts from OpenStreetMap.

Delivery & shopping apps

For everyday convenience, these are the clearest delivery-service signals we found for Roanoke City.

Exact delivery windows can vary by address, item, membership, restaurant hours, and driver availability. These checks use public service pages and do not log into private accounts.

Parks & the outdoors

Roanoke City has roughly 65 parks nearby, with easy access to Mill Mountain Park, Roanoke River Greenway, Appalachian Trail. Park counts from OpenStreetMap; destinations are well-known local landmarks.

Public parks & trails include Andrews Park, Argone Circle Park, Arnold R Burton Complex, Bennington Park, Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, Bluestone Park, Bonsack Park, Bowman Park. From county/city GIS.

Local rhythm

Weekdays

The city has the strongest walkable-district feel, especially near downtown, Grandin, Wasena, and the greenway.

Weekends

Markets, breweries, concerts, greenway rides, and mountain access are the local rhythm.

Newcomer tip

Older homes vary widely by renovation history; budget for inspections and maintenance context.

Festival and event weekends can change downtown parking and traffic.

Local businesses

Use this as a daily-life snapshot: grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and everyday places that help you picture a normal week in Roanoke City. Owner-approved details appear when available.

Grocery & markets

Restaurants

Cafes & coffee

Bakeries

Bars & breweries

Shops & retail

Health & medical

Pharmacies

Gyms & fitness

Personal care

Hotels & lodging

Banks

Hardware & home

Auto services

Churches & faith communities

Other services

Gas stations

Convenience stores

Browse the full Roanoke City directory, search businesses, parks & employers →

Business listings start from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and public local directories; owner-approved updates appear after review. Own or manage one? Claim or add your listing.

Newcomer resources

Government & towns

Schools & enrollment

Utilities & internet

Parks & the outdoors

Things to do

Newcomer & community

Community & events

Year-round, locals turn out for Festival in the Park (May), the historic Roanoke City Market (daily), Local Colors multicultural festival, Dr Pepper Park concert series.

Major employers & institutions

The biggest workplaces in and around Roanoke City: the universities, hospitals, plants, and offices that anchor the local economy.

Universities

Colleges & training

Hospitals & health systems

Research centers

Manufacturing & factories

Government & public sector

Major employers & offices

Business & industrial parks

A starting list of the area's largest workplaces, compiled from public sources and OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Healthcare

Home to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, the region's Level I trauma center and academic medical hub, plus a dense network of specialists.

Check drive times to care from a specific address →

Internet & remote work

Cox, Comcast/Xfinity, and Glo Fiber fiber service downtown and in most neighborhoods.

Verify broadband at the address level →

Climate

Valley-floor climate: warm summers, mild winters, about 42 inches of rain a year; the surrounding mountains shape local microclimates (NOAA, Roanoke).

Safety

Safety varies a lot by neighborhood here. South Roanoke, Grandin Village, and Raleigh Court are settled and walkable, while some inner pockets see more crime. It's worth looking block by block rather than judging the city as a whole. Safety varies block to block, so check current local crime data before you decide.

By the numbers

$964 /mo
Median gross rent
$52,671
Median household income

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Frequently asked questions

How much do homes cost in Roanoke City?

The median sale price in Roanoke City is $215,000, with most homes between $145,000 and $321,468.

What are property taxes like in Roanoke City?

Roanoke City's real-estate tax rate is about $1.22 per $100 of assessed value (roughly 1.22% a year).

How are the schools in Roanoke City?

Roanoke City Public Schools reports a 84% on-time graduation rate, with 55% passing Math and 56% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments.

Who are the major employers near Roanoke City?

Major employers include Carilion Clinic (~13,000+ employees, the metro's largest), Roanoke City Public Schools, City of Roanoke, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine & Research Institute.

Where is the nearest hospital to Roanoke City?

Home to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, the region's Level I trauma center and academic medical hub, plus a dense network of specialists.

Compare nearby areas

Lower base property-tax rate

Roanoke County

1.09 per $100 assessed versus 1.22 here.

Lower base property-tax rate

Salem

1.19 per $100 assessed versus 1.22 here.

Roanoke CountySalem

Moving from out of state?

See your tax and cost-of-living savings if you're moving from out of state:

Farmer's Market in downtown Roanoke, Virginia (49459803423)
Photo: Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan / CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
From San FranciscoFrom San Jose / Silicon ValleyFrom Los AngelesFrom San DiegoFrom SacramentoFrom New York City (Manhattan)From Brooklyn / QueensFrom Long IslandFrom Northern New JerseyFrom BostonFrom SeattleFrom Chicago

Local headlines

All local news →

Compare costs in the moving guide →

Sources and freshness

How to read the data for Living in Roanoke City.

Still choosing between Southwest Virginia markets?

This page is focused on Roanoke Metro. Use the region split below to keep nearby towns, commute patterns, and local data straight.

Current guide

Roanoke Metro

A walkable small city with a Level I trauma center and miles of mountain greenway, for a lot less than the coast costs.

Roanoke CountyRoanoke CitySalem
Companion guide

New River Valley

Where Virginia Tech, the New River, and the Blue Ridge all meet, with some of the lowest tax rates in the region.

Montgomery CountyRadfordPulaski CountyGiles CountyFloyd County
Open NRV guide