Population 119,690 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Roanoke
Household size in Roanoke
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Roanoke is a place of small households, averaging 2.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the south.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Roanoke are younger than 41.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.7, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the southwest.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Roanoke (12.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Virginia overall (10.7%). The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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
Renters in Roanoke
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.0% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.4% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Roanoke than nationally: 41.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 42.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share has risen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Roanoke: 11.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.3 points, even as the national rate fell.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Roanoke is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Only five of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $704 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $778 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $913 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,107 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Roanoke costs $1,107 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $403 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Roanoke
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.7% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Roanoke (32.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the east.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.6% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.4% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.4% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Roanoke is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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
| Period | Roanoke | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Roanoke is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.5 points from 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | 2.34 | 41.6 | 12.1% | 41.4% | 11.9% | 1964 | $1,107 | 32.4% | 90.5% | 4.8% |
| Hollins | 2.37 | 42.7 | 9.6% | 36.3% | 6.3% | 1977 | $1,204 | 26.0% | 93.2% | 3.1% |
| Cave Spring | 2.37 | 42.5 | 10.5% | 29.7% | 6.2% | 1976 | $1,246 | 47.4% | 96.3% | 2.7% |
| Vinton | 2.35 | 41.4 | 18.8% | 25.9% | 6.1% | 1974 | $919 | 23.0% | 90.7% | 2.8% |
| Salem | 2.33 | 43.4 | 10.6% | 29.6% | 8.1% | 1972 | $1,205 | 33.2% | 94.3% | 4.0% |
| Cloverdale | 2.38 | 51.6 | 11.2% | 23.6% | 12.4% | 1984 | $949 | 31.1% | 92.4% | 1.0% |
| Laymantown | 2.57 | 44.0 | 7.8% | 6.4% | 8.4% | 1978 | $1,070 | 31.4% | 98.1% | 1.5% |
| Mason Cove | 2.66 | 45.3 | 10.5% | 6.8% | 8.6% | 1965 | $1,184 | 24.3% | 95.1% | 3.8% |
| Wabun | 2.40 | 48.0 | 4.1% | 10.6% | 3.4% | 1983 | $1,250 | 43.4% | 96.1% | 3.5% |
| Glenvar | 2.35 | 50.5 | 3.7% | 10.5% | 6.6% | 1977 | $1,126 | 29.9% | 95.8% | 0.7% |
| Blue Ridge | 2.61 | 47.5 | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.8% | 1982 | $1,183 | 24.0% | 93.5% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Layton, UT · Las Cruces, NM · Laveen, AZ · Largo, FL · Lehigh Acres, FL · Lexington, KY · Lees Summit, MO · Leander, TX · Lansing, MI · High Point, NC
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. 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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