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.

$218,000
Median home
1.22
Tax per $100
84%
Grad rate
Very walkable
Walkability
See what you can afford in Roanoke City →

Housing market

The median sale price in Roanoke City is $218,000, with most homes between $145,000 and $323,000. A typical home runs None bed / 3,286 sqft (built ~None).

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).

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.

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 businesses

A sample of Roanoke City businesses from OpenStreetMap: grocery stores, restaurants, and the everyday places you look for first.

Grocery & markets

Restaurants

Cafes & coffee

Bakeries

Bars & breweries

Pharmacies

Banks

Hardware & home

Auto services

Gas stations

Convenience stores

Personal care

Business listings from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); hours and details change, so verify before you go. Own one of these? A claim/advertising option is coming.

Newcomer resources

Government & towns

Schools & enrollment

Utilities & internet

Parks & the outdoors

Things to do

Newcomer & community

Community & events

Year-round, the community turns 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.

Internet & remote work

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

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 $218,000, with most homes between $145,000 and $323,000.

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

Roanoke CountySalem

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Also exploring Southwest Virginia?

This is the Roanoke Metro guide. Looking a little further out? See our companion guide:

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