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CITY · 2020 ACS

Roanoke

Virginia · 100,011 residents · 42.521 sq mi
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The short version

Roanoke has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,664. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $134,900. Households here earn about 40% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
100,011
+5%since 2000
from 94,911 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.1
+4%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
93K95K97K99K101K1990201020202024Roanoke
202498K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(5,923)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(5,975)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.9%(5,893)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.2%(5,219)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(5,878)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.7%(15,713)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.6%(12,565)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(11,813)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.1%(13,133)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.5%(10,541)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.8%(4,812)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(2,546)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,664
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,719 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,585
+60%since 2000
from $18,468 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.7%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$134,900
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$804
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $448 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
49.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2000
from 56.3% in 2000
51.0% rent
Afford Score
3.0
−13%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Roanoke on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68.8%(65,256)
Black26.6%(25,220)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,405)
Asian1.1%(1,088)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic55.9%(55,951)
Black27.1%(27,077)
Hispanic / Latino8.5%(8,484)
Asian2.5%(2,462)
Other3.7%(3,749)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Central American1.7%(1,640)
Honduran1.4%(1,358)
Mexican1.3%(1,324)
Puerto Rican1.3%(1,318)
Cuban0.8%(753)
Dominican0.2%(235)
Ecuadorian0.2%(205)
Spaniard0.1%(140)
Guatemalan0.1%(107)
Salvadoran0.1%(107)
Colombian0.1%(105)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(68)
Peruvian0.1%(63)
Nicaraguan0.1%(54)
Venezuelan0.1%(50)
Argentine0%(33)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.8%(767)
Filipino0.6%(629)
Korean0.2%(247)
Chinese0.2%(241)
Pakistani0.1%(140)
Vietnamese0.1%(120)
Japanese0.1%(91)
Laotian0%(49)
Thai0%(35)
Taiwanese0%(20)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(32)
Ancestry
English8.3%(8,238)
German7.9%(7,809)
Irish7.6%(7,507)
American7.3%(7,272)
Italian2.2%(2,226)
Scottish2.2%(2,206)
Scotch-Irish1.9%(1,897)
Polish1.3%(1,316)
French1%(1,007)
Dutch0.9%(932)
West Indian0.7%(695)
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data
British0.6%(598)
Swedish0.4%(441)
Welsh0.4%(430)
Russian0.4%(424)
Haitian0.4%(375)
Norwegian0.2%(229)
Lebanese0.2%(226)
Greek0.2%(222)
Swiss0.2%(150)
Hungarian0.1%(131)
Jamaican0.1%(127)
Danish0.1%(123)
Czech0.1%(105)
Ghanaian0.1%(102)
Brazilian0.1%(92)
Romanian0.1%(90)
Ethiopian0.1%(87)
Slovak0.1%(85)
Lithuanian0.1%(83)
Canadian0.1%(81)
Croatian0.1%(63)
Ukrainian0.1%(63)
Arab0.1%(60)
Nigerian0.1%(59)
Portuguese0.1%(58)
Iraqi0.1%(57)
Syrian0%(37)
Serbian0%(33)
Austrian0%(28)
Armenian0%(24)
Latvian0%(17)
Iranian0%(15)
Egyptian0%(14)
Moroccan0%(12)
Belgian0%(11)
Kenyan0%(9)
Israeli0%(3)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.8%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.7%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+89%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
12.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 63.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.9%
−31.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
Female
52.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.1%
−71.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married44.6%(16,635)
Married39%(14,526)
Widowed3.5%(1,311)
Divorced12.9%(4,790)
Women 15+
Never married38.9%(16,550)
Married34.9%(14,830)
Widowed11.9%(5,044)
Divorced14.3%(6,074)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Roanoke, Virginia?

Roanoke, Virginia has about 100,011 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Roanoke, Virginia?

The typical household in Roanoke, Virginia earns about $45,664 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Roanoke, Virginia expensive?

In Roanoke, Virginia, the median home is worth about $134,900, and the typical rent is about $804 a month.

How educated are people in Roanoke, Virginia?

About 24.8% of adults age 25 and over in Roanoke, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Roanoke, Virginia?

About 20.1% of people in Roanoke, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Roanoke, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Roanoke, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,614 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →