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thomas_fan qa

Is Roanoke walkable?

Curious what people think. Median household income is $52,671, which feels on the lower side for the area. Crime rate is something to consider -Roanoke sits at 387.0 per 100K. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Am I wrong here? The suburbs are where most families end up. The city has invested a lot in new development.
6 upvotes

4 Replies

Austin M.
100%
31 upvotes
Carolyn E.
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
26 upvotes
Jace Long
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a lawyer, 46, moved here 14 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Riverside and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Friendly community, easy to meet people
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The traffic situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. tough vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
25 upvotes
Sophie
Weather-wise, the summers are improving and winters are manageable. You get used to it after the first year.
0 upvotes
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