What BestPlaces Users Say about Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia is a mid-sized city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a population of approximately 99,000, it is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, vibrant arts and cultural scene, and historic downtown. It has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Virginia and offers a low cost of living compared to other cities in the state.
Excerpts from User Reviews:
1. "I've lived in Roanoke for over 10 years and it's been a great place to call home. The natural beauty of the mountains and outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking make it a perfect spot for nature lovers." - Samantha W.
2. "Roanoke has a strong sense of community and a diverse population. I've enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life here. Plus, the cost of living is reasonable and there are plenty of job opportunities." - John D.
3. "I moved to Roanoke for college and ended up staying after graduation. The downtown area is full of unique shops, restaurants, and events. It's a great place to hang out with friends or just take a stroll." - Emily M.
4. "I've been living in Roanoke for over 30 years and have seen it grow and improve in many ways. The city has invested in revitalizing downtown and it's now a bustling area with live music, art galleries, and food trucks. The only downside is the traffic can be a headache during rush hour." - Mark T.
based on 44 ReviewsGet to know Roanoke with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Roanoke
Allergies? - 8/19/2008
I am considering moving to the Roanoke area from the foothills of Colorado. I was just wondering why there have been claims of bad allergies there. Is it a pollen thing, due to the trees, mtns...? I was just wondering how it would be in comparison to the pine pollen season here. I have asthma, so I was just wondering if anyone had more information/ experience...?
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Roanoke is great for retirees! - 7/11/2008
Roanoke is probably the most overlooked area in the U.S. by the national media for quality of life. MONEY magazine named it the top place to retire a few years ago but since then this region is overhadowed by nearby cities of Charlottesville and Asheville. The area would like more young professionals to settle here but with the large elderly population it is better geared for people who would traditionally move to Florida after a successful career.
Downtown is quite vibrant with many diverse restaurants, entertainment and cultural offerings. There is an opera, symphony, perfoming arts center, civic center, transportation rail museum, zoo, $66m new art museum, two major shopping malls within 10 miles of each other, major lake with sandy beach and cabin, riverboat dining, whitewater rafting, tubing, Va Tech football games, mountain hiking and camping on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, romantic dining at the Peaks of Otter Lodge, hot water baths at Hot Springs' The Homestead which offers
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Not much to do for young people - 7/19/2007
I've lived here 25 years and little has changed for the better. I am contemplating a move due to the lack of cultural and recreational activities, a dwindling education system, and an increase in crime. Although the cost of living is very reasonable the quality of living could be improved. Ready for a
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Roanoke Valley Politics - 7/8/2007
Within the borders of Roanoke County are two cities, and, therefore, three competing and equal governments. For that reason, Roanoke has not seen the growth that some of its regional neighbors have experienced. Salem is a city that retains its small town atmosphere and sense of community. Roanoke is a larger, more diverse city that has seen several corporate headquarters come and go. It is now on its way to becoming a large regional medical center with the Carilion Clinic. Roanoke County is a suburb to both cities and has several light manufacturers, including ITT Night Vision. The result is a region with a variety of lifestyles ranging from semi-rural to city condo living. The urban center is largely Democratic, and the small town neighborhoods are Republican. The cost of living is relatively low, the average age tends to be older than the national average and salaries are relatively low. Nearby are the recreational areas of Smith Mountain and Claytor lakes, and the Blue
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Roanoke has it's pros and cons - 1/15/2007
I have lived in Roanoke for 6.5 years. I grew up in Northern VA (about 20 min. outside of D.C.) and moved here with my husband (he grew up here).
Pros:
1. Wonderful views - Blue Ridge Mountains
2. Shopping is convenient
3. Low to Moderate traffic (depending on the area and what time)
4. Get to enjoy all four seasons
5. Low to Moderate cost of living
6. Housing is not expensive
Cons:
1. White collar jobs are slim (unless you are in the medical field).
2. Good ol'Boy mentality still exists.
3. Racists are abound.
4. If you are younger, you need to drive a while to find "culture" unless your idea of a good time is sitting around in a bar.
5. Crime rates aren't great (depends on the area of Roanoke - middle income homes are the ones targeted most). I had my truck broken into 6 months after moving here. Fun.
FAQ:
1. Southwest County is where all the rich people
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Roanoke is nice! - 1/13/2007
Originally from the Midwest, moved to Roanoke VA several years ago. Roanoke winters are not bad, plenty of sunshine year round, and actually less humidity here in the mountains compared to where I was prior in the Midwest up by the Great Lakes. Scenery abounds here in Roanoke, mountains, trails, waterfalls, recreational lakes nearby, awesome flowers and color during spring and fall. Despite what others have posted, I have no real allergy problems here in Roanoke, in fact my allergies were worse up in the Midwest. Roanoke or near Roanoke is a smart choice for living. Nearby Blacksburg is booming, but a little smaller. Smith Mountain Lake is also
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Caution before moving to Roanoke - 12/24/2006
My wife and I have lived in the Roanoke area about a year now and we love it. If you like living in a tranquil, scenic setting this might be the place for you... but unless you're retiring here, get a job first! If you're a white collar worker, it really is tough to get a job in this blue collar town (unless you're an RN, PT, OT, etc). Be forwarned, there is a bit of the "good 'ol boy" mentality in this area.
Also, nobody seems to talk about this in any of the Roanoke forums, but if you have allergy problems, this place is the pits. It's a well known fact among the locals this is one of the worst places in the country for allergies. If this is a problem for you, I don't recommend moving here... your Zyrtec, Flonase, or whatever will not help you as much as you think.
Also, because of the mountains and all the traffic on I81, you get alot of smog in the summer time. But hey, no place is
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Relocating to Roanoke - 10/10/2006
I went to college in Roanoke (2002-2004) for 2 years and now that I'm graduating this December, I am thinking about relocating to Roanoke within a year or so from the Fairfax County\Northern Virginia area. It is much too expensive to live in Fairfax County, is Roanoke a good choice for relocation? It has been almost 3 years since I last was in the area, the people were nice for the most part from what I remember but I was hoping for some
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I grew up in Roanoke - 8/16/2006
I lived in Roanoke for many years after graduating high school, things are very slow there and do not seem to change. The only real growth in the city is around Valley View Mall area, and the planning for that is horrible with only a few ways to get out of the overly congested area. Most of the city feels rundown and old, especially the part around the main street Williamson Road..it has a boarded up, desolate vibe. The people are somehow stuck in the 1980's - including haircuts..which is very strange when I visit - like going back in time. Very redneck feel and/or urban. Also racist attitudes persist..alot of aggressive people. I've heard this is a good place to retire - and it is incredibily scenic, the surrounding mountains are beautiful - but for anyone under the age of 60 or over the age of 10 I don't think that it is a great place to live...unless you are in a time warp and don't mind all the mullet haircuts and Wrangler Jeans with chains connected to the wallets, or else
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