Population 97,023 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Roanoke County
Household size in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Roanoke County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Roanoke County is 44.1 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.8, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Roanoke County (10.6%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Roanoke County
Renters in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Roanoke County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Roanoke County than nationally: 7.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Roanoke County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Virginia counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Roanoke County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Virginia as a whole, where the median home dates to 1984.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $834 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $894 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,061 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,242 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$408 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Roanoke County runs $1,242 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $408 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Roanoke County
Bachelor's degrees in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.0% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.8% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.1% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Roanoke County (37.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Virginia as a whole (42.5%). The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Roanoke County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.5 points, in line with the national trend. Few Virginia counties have a higher share of high school graduates: only nine of 133.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Roanoke County
| Period | Roanoke County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Roanoke County has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Roanoke County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke County | 2.42 | 44.1 | 10.6% | 24.3% | 7.1% | 1979 | $1,242 | 37.1% | 94.6% | 2.8% |
| Roanoke City | 2.28 | 40.2 | 13.5% | 47.6% | 12.5% | 1959 | $1,018 | 29.7% | 89.7% | 5.4% |
| Salem City | 2.30 | 41.5 | 11.9% | 37.2% | 8.4% | 1967 | $1,235 | 33.7% | 93.7% | 3.3% |
| Montgomery County | 2.44 | 35.0 | 6.8% | 44.7% | 14.0% | 1987 | $1,257 | 49.3% | 96.3% | 3.1% |
| Bedford County | 2.47 | 47.1 | 6.7% | 15.3% | 9.6% | 1989 | $1,018 | 34.4% | 92.7% | 2.9% |
| Radford City | 2.44 | 31.1 | 5.2% | 57.7% | 15.9% | 1975 | $992 | 42.1% | 94.4% | 7.5% |
| Giles County | 2.49 | 44.9 | 5.5% | 21.1% | 19.0% | 1971 | $799 | 18.5% | 91.4% | 2.0% |
| Lynchburg City | 2.36 | 32.9 | 11.9% | 51.1% | 15.0% | 1971 | $1,081 | 43.4% | 92.0% | 6.0% |
| Campbell County | 2.47 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 25.1% | 12.9% | 1983 | $919 | 26.4% | 90.3% | 3.7% |
| Bland County | 2.27 | 47.0 | 6.0% | 13.5% | 23.0% | 1982 | $714 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 2.4% |
| Mercer County | 2.41 | 42.8 | 9.8% | 27.1% | 17.4% | 1973 | $824 | 22.7% | 89.2% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Josephine County, OR · Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK · Flathead County, MT · Floyd County, GA · Fond du Lac County, WI · Franklin County, MO · Franklin County, WA · Frederick County, VA · Garland County, AR · Geauga County, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Roanoke County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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