Roanoke,VA from Mill Mountain Star
Photo: Vladsinger / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Living in Roanoke County, Virginia

The suburban side of the Roanoke Valley. Cave Spring and Hollins have settled neighborhoods and some of the metro's best-rated schools.

$310,000
Median home
1.09
Tax per $100
95%
Grad rate
Car-dependent
Walkability
See what you can afford in Roanoke County →
Roanoke, Virginia viewed from Mill Mountain
Photo: SchuminWeb / CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Housing market

The median sale price in Roanoke County is $310,000, with most homes between $226,000 and $419,000 (about $176/sqft). A typical home runs 3 bed / 1,728 sqft (built ~1977).

Local starting points

Cave Spring

Home-buying activity

In 2024, lenders financed 1,171 home purchases in Roanoke County, at a median mortgage of $265,000. 66% of new mortgages were purchases rather than refinances.

About 20% 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 County Public Schools reports a 95% on-time graduation rate, with 85% passing Math and 84% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments (VDOE School Quality Profile).

Roanoke County 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 37 restaurants & cafes and 20 grocery stores. The town center is car-dependent (0 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 County.

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 County has roughly 7 parks nearby, with easy access to Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, Appalachian Trail, Explore Park. Park counts from OpenStreetMap; destinations are well-known local landmarks.

Public parks & trails include Academy Street PArk, Andrews Park, App Trail Corridor Land, Arnold R Burton Complex, Bluestone Park, Bowman Park, Breckenridge Ballfields, Brookside Park. From county/city GIS.

Local rhythm

Weekdays

School, retail, and medical commutes are usually by car, with quick routes into Roanoke City.

Weekends

Trailheads, parks, youth sports, and suburban errands shape weekends.

Newcomer tip

Drive the exact school and work route; the county wraps around the city and travel times vary.

Leaf season and outdoor weekends make mountain access a real amenity.

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 County. 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 County 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

Getting around

Parks & the outdoors

Community & events

Year-round, locals turn out for Vinton Dogwood Festival (April), summer events at Explore Park, Green Hill Park horse shows.

Major employers & institutions

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

Hospitals & health systems

Government & public sector

Major employers & offices

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

Healthcare

Minutes from Carilion Roanoke Memorial (the region's Level I trauma center) and LewisGale Salem.

Check drive times to care from a specific address →

Internet & remote work

Cox and Comcast/Xfinity, with Glo Fiber expanding across the suburbs.

Verify broadband at the address level →

Climate

Mild four-season climate in the Roanoke Valley, a touch warmer than the NRV; about 42 inches of rain a year (NOAA, Roanoke).

Safety

Suburban and among the lower-crime jurisdictions in the metro; Cave Spring and Hollins are long-established family areas. Safety varies block to block, so check current local crime data before you decide.

By the numbers

$1,148 /mo
Median gross rent
$82,931
Median household income

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

Frequently asked questions

How much do homes cost in Roanoke County?

The median sale price in Roanoke County is $310,000, with most homes between $226,000 and $419,000.

What are property taxes like in Roanoke County?

Roanoke County's real-estate tax rate is about $1.09 per $100 of assessed value (roughly 1.09% a year).

How are the schools in Roanoke County?

Roanoke County Public Schools reports a 95% on-time graduation rate, with 85% passing Math and 84% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments.

Who are the major employers near Roanoke County?

Major employers include Carilion Clinic, Roanoke County Public Schools, Kroger / Food Lion regional operations, Friendship (senior care).

Where is the nearest hospital to Roanoke County?

Minutes from Carilion Roanoke Memorial (the region's Level I trauma center) and LewisGale Salem.

Compare nearby areas

Usually lower entry price

Roanoke City

Typical homes price around $215,000 versus $310,000 here.

More walkable errands

Salem

42 walkable spots in the amenity scan versus 0 here.

Roanoke CitySalem

Moving from out of state?

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

Roanoke County courthouse
Photo: Mojo Hand / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Local headlines

All local news →

Compare costs in the moving guide →

Sources and freshness

How to read the data for Living in Roanoke County.

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