Median Age
40 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
19%
Roanoke
Roanoke, VA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,105
Population
96,712
Renter Mix
52% Rent
Welcome to the Star City of the South
Scenic
•
Hiking
•
Active
•
Restaurants
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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
Demographics
Median Household Income
$49,827
Average: $67,402
Education
23,735
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
48,637
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Roanoke has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
52%
Non-Renters
48%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
19%
Other Education
81%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Roanoke, VA is $806 for a studio, $1,112 for one bedroom, $1,322 for two bedrooms, and $1,658 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Roanoke has increased by 2.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,112/month
668 Sq Ft
House
$1,714/month
1,061 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,200/month
767 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,494/month
637 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Roanoke, VA is 7.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Roanoke is 22.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $806 - $1,658. You can expect to pay 2.6% less for groceries, 12.8% more for utilities, and 4.9% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Roanoke, VA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Mount Pleasant Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
250 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
400 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
320 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
304 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
508 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
765 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
578 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
627 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
642 Students
Stonewall Jackson Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
501 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
830 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,056 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
950 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,005 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,911 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
Greenbrier Management
-
32
Communities
-
4,066
Units
-
14
Cities
11 Communities in Roanoke
The Caton Companies
-
11
Communities
-
2,681
Units
-
7
Cities
5 Communities in Roanoke
R. Fralin & Associates
-
13
Communities
-
1,111
Units
-
7
Cities
5 Communities in Roanoke
Solomon Organization
-
62
Communities
-
23,231
Units
-
48
Cities
3 Communities in Roanoke
Beacon Property Management
-
33
Communities
-
8,180
Units
-
22
Cities
3 Communities in Roanoke
Four Mile Capital
-
12
Communities
-
2,244
Units
-
11
Cities
2 Communities in Roanoke
Search Nearby Rentals
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Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
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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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.