Housing decision brief
Roanoke city, VA Housing Market
Roanoke city screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
37th lowest home value out of 133 Virginia counties with data | 52nd lowest rent out of 133
Median home value
$180,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$964/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,003/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.4x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$39/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$180,500 median home value is 25% below Virginia county median
Lower rent
$964/mo is 8% below Virginia county median
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Lower income base
$52,671 median income is 21% below Virginia county median
Tax rate needs attention
1.01% effective property-tax rate is 62% above Virginia county median
Health context
Health score is 32.0 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Roanoke city is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $180,500 | $240,900 | $281,900 | 25% favorable25% below Virginia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $964 | $1,043 | $1,163 | 8% favorable8% below Virginia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,003 | $978 | $1,672 | Near state median3% above Virginia county median |
Median household income | $52,671 | $66,718 | $74,755 | 21% pressure21% below Virginia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 1.01% | 0.63% | 1.02% | 62% pressure62% above Virginia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 28.00% | N/A | Near state median28.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$14,111
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$9,685
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Roanoke city, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $964/month in gross rent, with 28.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
Renters in Roanoke city pay $964/month on average, compared to $1,003/month for homeowners. This market favors renters by about 4%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $38,560/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $42,986/year. With a median household income of $52,671, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Roanoke city are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Virginia, Roanoke city is more affordable than Prince Edward County by roughly 7% ($964/mo vs $898/mo).
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radford city, VA | $211,700 | $966/mo | Same-state comparison near $211,700 home value and $966/mo rent. |
| Accomack County, VA | $193,100 | $973/mo | Same-state comparison near $193,100 home value and $973/mo rent. |
| Sussex County, VA | $178,500 | $952/mo | Same-state comparison near $178,500 home value and $952/mo rent. |
| Greensville County, VA | $159,200 | $960/mo | Same-state comparison near $159,200 home value and $960/mo rent. |
| Nottoway County, VA | $179,800 | $1,009/mo | Same-state comparison near $179,800 home value and $1,009/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Roanoke city
Is Roanoke city affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Roanoke city?
How much income do you need for housing in Roanoke city?
What should I double-check before moving to Roanoke city?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.