Roanoke

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Roanoke, VA

Area Guide

Welcome to the Star City of the South

Scenic Hiking Active Restaurants

Located in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke combines outdoor recreation with city amenities. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides access to hiking trails, mountain biking paths, and scenic overlooks, while the city maintains 26 miles of paved greenways for cycling and walking. Downtown features the historic City Market, Virginia's oldest continuously operating open-air market, and the Texas Tavern, a 10-seat local institution operating since 1930. Cultural attractions include the Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Transportation, and Mill Mountain Theatre. Mill Mountain Park houses the iconic 88.5-foot Roanoke Star, which inspired the city's "Star City of the South" nickname.

The rental market in Roanoke offers competitive rates compared to other Virginia cities, with average rents ranging from $761 for studios to $1,711 for four-bedroom units. One-bedroom apartments average $1,074, reflecting a 4.8% annual increase. Notable areas include Old Southwest, characterized by Victorian architecture, and the Grandin Village area near the historic Grandin Theatre. The expanding healthcare sector, centered around Carilion Clinic, has sparked development near downtown. Roanoke's evolution from its railroad heritage to its current status as a healthcare and recreation center has contributed to population growth, with the city recently exceeding 100,000 residents for the first time since 1980.

Explore the City

Shopping along Market Street

The historic City Market contains shops and restaurants

The scenic Elmwood Park amphitheater

Rent Trends

As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Roanoke, VA is $791 for a studio, $1,098 for one bedroom, $1,275 for two bedrooms, and $1,562 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Roanoke has increased by 2.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,098/month
671 Sq Ft
House
$1,748/month
1,155 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,403/month
810 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,590/month
974 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Roanoke, VA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Roanoke, VA is 8.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Roanoke is 24.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $791 - $1,562. You can expect to pay 2.9% less for groceries, 16.1% more for utilities, and 3.5% less for transportation.

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Transportation

51

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

24

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

41

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Mount Pleasant Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

250 Students

Penn Forest Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

400 Students

Bonsack Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

320 Students

Crystal Spring Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

304 Students

Cave Spring Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

508 Students

Cave Spring Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

765 Students

Hidden Valley Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

578 Students

Northside Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

627 Students

Woodrow Wilson Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

642 Students

Stonewall Jackson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

501 Students

Hidden Valley High

Public

Grades 9-12

830 Students

Cave Spring High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,056 Students

Northside High

Public

Grades 9-12

950 Students

Patrick Henry High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,005 Students

William Fleming High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,911 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Science Museum of Western Virginia
  • Mill Mountain Park and Discovery Center
  • Mill Mountain Zoo
  • Wolf Creek Greenway

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field)

Top Apartments in Roanoke

Houses for Rent in Roanoke

Property Management Companies in Roanoke, VA

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.