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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Roanoke Metro

Roanoke, VA · 6 counties · 315,251 residents · 1,867.568 sq mi
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The short version

Roanoke has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $59,589. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $179,645.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
28% 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
315,251
+9%since 2000
from 288,309 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
169 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 154 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
43.7
+11%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
264K278K292K306K320K1990201020202024Roanoke
2024315K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,589
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,704 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,760
+61%since 2000
from $21,006 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.8%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$179,645
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,459 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$838
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $488 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.3% in 2000
32.2% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+19%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Roanoke on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(243,264)
Black12.1%(34,988)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(3,269)
Asian1%(3,011)
Other0%
Diversity Score31.7%(91,421)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic75.5%(237,907)
Black12.5%(39,404)
Hispanic / Latino5%(15,863)
Asian2.2%(6,969)
Other2.7%(8,395)
Diversity Score48.2%(151,806)
Segregation Score43.7%(137,656)
Diversity Score
48
+52%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
44
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 21.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.5%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+77%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
37.6%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
51.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.8%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

RoanokeCENTRAL99,111
What's inside

6 component counties

RoanokeCENTRAL99,111Roanoke CountyCENTRAL97,150Franklin County55,526Botetourt CountyCENTRAL34,144SalemCENTRAL25,816Craig County4,800
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Roanoke

Clarksville
Pop 349,001
Rockford
Pop 337,242
South Bend
Pop 324,538
Utica
Pop 285,611
Places similar to Roanoke
Head to head

Compare Roanoke side by side

ROANOKE VS
Clarksville
Income$70,081+18%
Home value$250,970+40%
Population349,001+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE VS
Rockford
Income$68,800+15%
Home value$172,788−4%
Population337,242+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE VS
South Bend
Income$67,435+13%
Home value$196,800+10%
Population324,538+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROANOKE VS
Utica
Income$69,815+17%
Home value$175,381−2%
Population285,611−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Roanoke, VA?

Roanoke, VA has about 315,251 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Roanoke, VA?

The typical household in Roanoke, VA earns about $59,589 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Roanoke, VA expensive?

In Roanoke, VA, the median home is worth about $179,645, and the typical rent is about $838 a month.

How educated are people in Roanoke, VA?

About 28.5% of adults age 25 and over in Roanoke, VA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Roanoke, VA?

About 12.4% of people in Roanoke, VA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Roanoke, VA grown since 1990?

Yes, Roanoke, VA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 46,853 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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