The Town FilesRoanoke, Virginia
City in Roanoke city · population 100,011 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,500
- Household income
- $55,378
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.3
Roanoke is a city of 100,011 people in Roanoke city, Virginia. The median home is worth $190,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 96% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 94% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Virginia towns.
How Roanoke ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Roanoke is worth $190,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $55,378, which is more affordable than 69% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $996 a month. 52.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roanoke | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $996 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $55,378 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Roanoke
| People | Roanoke | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Roanoke
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 22, 2004.
Severe weather in Roanoke city since 1996
Roanoke city has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Roanoke city
Roanoke city had 65,679 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,732 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Roanoke itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Roanoke
47 public schools with 22,634 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Henry High | 9-12 | 2,016 | 15.3 |
| William Fleming High | 9-12 | 1,909 | 15.6 |
| Cave Spring High | 9-12 | 1,075 | 15.8 |
| Northside High | 9-12 | 923 | 14.4 |
| Hidden Valley High | 9-12 | 851 | 15.8 |
| Cave Spring Middle | 6-8 | 751 | 11.9 |
| Round Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 704 | 14.1 |
| Woodrow Wilson Middle | 6-8 | 682 | 14.2 |
| Westside Elementary | PK-5 | 647 | 13.2 |
| Northside Middle | 6-8 | 611 | 12.7 |
| Breckinridge Middle | 6-8 | 595 | 13.2 |
| John P. Fishwick Middle | 6-8 | 579 | 15.2 |
Towns near Roanoke
- Vinton, VA3.9 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
- Cave Spring, VA4.5 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
- Hollins, VA4.5 mi · 15,574 people · home $244,300
- Salem, VA5.4 mi · 25,346 people · home $258,600
- Cloverdale, VA6.1 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
- Daleville, VA9.7 mi · 3,070 people · home $370,100
- Blue Ridge, VA10.2 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Rocky Mount, VA19.4 mi · 4,903 people · home $207,000
Roanoke questions
Is Roanoke, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roanoke scores better for retirees than 18% of Virginia towns and quieter than 26%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Roanoke?
The median owner-occupied home in Roanoke is valued at $190,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,378, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $996 a month.
What is the weather like in Roanoke?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Roanoke get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)