Population 121 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Roanoke
Household size in Roanoke
| Period | Roanoke | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.40 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Roanoke is a place of small households, averaging 2.15 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.56, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.8 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.4 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.3 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.5 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.3, Roanoke is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Roanoke: 3.4% of households, against 11.6% 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.7% of households in Roanoke rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over six in ten owners (62.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.8% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −12.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.5% of the housing in Roanoke, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Roanoke are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $484 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $514 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $711 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $704 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$220 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Roanoke runs $704 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 12.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Roanoke: 17.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.5% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.0% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.5% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.9% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Roanoke never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% 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 | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Roanoke than nationally: unemployment was 6.8%, against 5.4%. 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 | 2.15 | 50.3 | 3.4% | 15.7% | 19.5% | 1987 | $704 | 17.6% | 82.9% | 6.8% |
| Walkersville | 2.20 | 50.7 | 3.1% | 16.5% | 20.8% | 1987 | $706 | 17.8% | 83.3% | 6.7% |
| Knawl | 2.07 | 54.4 | 1.2% | 15.5% | 20.4% | 1988 | $704 | 17.5% | 81.8% | 6.6% |
| Orlando | 2.29 | 45.4 | 7.4% | 21.8% | 21.9% | 1981 | $687 | 15.2% | 84.4% | 6.5% |
| Brownsville | 2.35 | 40.3 | 8.8% | 16.2% | 17.4% | 1984 | $704 | 17.6% | 85.5% | 7.3% |
| Vandalia | 2.07 | 54.4 | 1.2% | 15.5% | 20.4% | 1988 | $704 | 17.5% | 81.8% | 6.6% |
| Crawford | 2.33 | 48.1 | 5.8% | 17.0% | 21.9% | 1986 | $732 | 17.4% | 85.0% | 7.0% |
| McGuire Park | 2.07 | 54.4 | 1.2% | 15.5% | 20.4% | 1988 | $704 | 17.5% | 81.8% | 6.6% |
| Copley | 2.46 | 41.5 | 10.6% | 22.8% | 21.0% | 1983 | $702 | 13.4% | 86.7% | 7.6% |
| Weston | 2.30 | 42.1 | 13.0% | 37.8% | 15.0% | 1968 | $750 | 16.8% | 86.0% | 10.2% |
| Horner | 2.26 | 48.7 | 8.8% | 17.6% | 15.2% | 1989 | $744 | 20.7% | 89.3% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Roscoe, MT · Ritner, KY · Riverside, IN · Riverview, AR · Robb, PA · Rock Camp, OH · Rockhill, OH · Rockville, SC · Rockwood, NY · Rocky Branch, TX
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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