Roanoke, VA

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Add Comparison

2021 Population

314,501

0.387% 1-year growth

US Senator

Mark Warner

Democratic Party

US Senator

Tim Kaine

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

42.8

0.233% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

12%

3.49% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$60,907

5.66% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$191,500

4.19% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

149,294

0.679% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Roanoke, VA had a population of 315k people with a median age of 42.8 and a median household income of $60,907. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Roanoke, VA grew from 313,289 to 314,501, a 0.387% increase and its median household income grew from $57,642 to $60,907, a 5.66% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Roanoke, VA are White (Non-Hispanic) (77.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (13%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.64%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.41%), and White (Hispanic) (1.93%).

None of the households in Roanoke, VA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.5% of the residents in Roanoke, VA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Roanoke, VA are Virginia Western Community College (233949) (1,133 degrees awarded in 2021), Roanoke College (233426) (458 degrees), and American National University (250 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Roanoke, VA was $191,500, and the homeownership rate was 68.7%.

Most people in Roanoke, VA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Roanoke, VA was 2 cars per household.

Roanoke, VA borders Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, Danville, VA, Lynchburg, VA, and Martinsville, VA.

Photo by Donnie Nunley

United States Virginia

Population & Diversity

Roanoke, VA is home to a population of 315k people, from which 97.5% are citizens. As of 2021, 4.69% of Roanoke, VA residents were born outside of the country (14.8k people).

In 2021, there were 5.96 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (243k people) in Roanoke, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 40.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 8.3k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.5%

2021 Citizenship

97.4%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 97.5% of Roanoke, VA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Roanoke, VA was 97.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Roanoke, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Roanoke, VA

White (Non-Hispanic)
243k ± 411
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
40.9k ± 928
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
8.3k ± 939

4.13%

Hispanic Population

13k people

4.13% of the people in Roanoke, VA are hispanic (13k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Roanoke, VA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for Virginia.

Most Common Origin

El Salvador
109,039 ± 8,055 people
India
96,011 ± 7,565 people
Mexico
59,097 ± 5,948 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Virginia was El Salvador, the natal country of 109,039 Virginia residents, followed by India with 96,011 and Mexico with 59,097.

Foreign-Born Population

4.69%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

14.8k people

4.77%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

14.9k people

As of 2021, 4.69% of Roanoke, VA residents (14.8k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Roanoke, VA was 4.77%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Roanoke, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
7,435 ± 550
Gulf War (2001-)
3,957 ± 461
Gulf War (1990s)
3,220 ± 469

Roanoke, VA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.88 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Roanoke, VA employs 149k people. The largest industries in Roanoke, VA are Health Care & Social Assistance (25,048 people), Retail Trade (16,351 people), and Manufacturing (15,554 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($66,956), Utilities ($59,286), and Public Administration ($52,239).

Males in Virginia have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $63,894. The income inequality in Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.476, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

149k

2021 Value

± 3,232

0.679%

1 Year growth

± 3.01%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Roanoke, VA grew at a rate of 0.679%, from 148k employees to 149k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Roanoke, VA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (17,795 people), Sales & Related Occupations (15,281 people), and Management Occupations (14,762 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Roanoke, VA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

149k

2021 Value

± 3,232

0.679%

1 Year growth

± 3.01%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Roanoke, VA grew at a rate of 0.679%, from 148k employees to 149k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Roanoke, VA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (25,048 people), Retail Trade (16,351 people), and Manufacturing (15,554 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Roanoke, VA, though some of these residents may live in Roanoke, VA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,345

Median earning men ± $1,642

$34,316

Median earning women ± $957

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,927), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($58,606), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($54,312).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Public Administration ($51,925), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($43,711), and Construction ($41,486).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Virginia. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Virginia.

View Full Dashboard

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

2,825
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
2,310
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
1,740
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$3.12M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$2.99M
Manufacturing
$1.51M
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Virginia to other states, or from other states to Virginia.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Virginia product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $37.7B, followed by Electronics ($29B) and Machinery ($23.6B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Virginia products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Virginia.

$313B

2020 Value in Virginia

$612B

Projected 2050 Value in Virginia

95.3% growth

In 2020, total outbound Virginia trade was $313B. This is expected to increase 95.3% to $612B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Virginia trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Virginia to other states, or from other states to Virginia.

Most Common Trade Partners

In 2020, the top outbound Virginia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Carolina with $26B, followed by Maryland with $18.5B and Pennsylvania and $12.4B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Virginia shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 54.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (44%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.45%).

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing the state of Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Roanoke, VA. Showing the available data for Virginia.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (54.1%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (44%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.45%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 54.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (44%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.45%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Mark Warner

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Tim Kaine

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Virginia

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Roanoke, VA awarded 2,279 degrees. The student population of Roanoke, VA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 3,966 male students and 6,350 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Roanoke, VA are White (1,633 and 73%), followed by Black or African American (249 and 11.1%), Hispanic or Latino (102 and 4.56%), and Unknown (95 and 4.25%).

The largest universities in Roanoke, VA by number of degrees awarded are Virginia Western Community College (233949) (1,133 and 49.7%), Roanoke College (233426) (458 and 20.1%), and American National University (250 and 11%).

The most popular majors in Roanoke, VA are General Business Administration & Management (189 and 8.29%), General Studies (88 and 3.86%), and Biological & Physical Sciences (87 and 3.82%).

The median tuition cost in Roanoke, VA for private four year colleges is $39,360.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2021 in Roanoke, VA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 77.9%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 12.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2021 was 10,316 (38.4% men and 61.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2021 there were 10,316 students enrolled in Roanoke, VA, 38.4% men and 61.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 6,950 records, of which 60.5% were women and 39.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
94 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
60 degree-majors awarded
General Biological Sciences
50 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Roanoke, VA was General Business Administration & Management with 94 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Roanoke, VA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Virginia Western Community College (233949)
1,133 degrees awarded
Roanoke College (233426)
458 degrees awarded
American National University
250 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Virginia Western Community College (233949) with 1,133 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2021, 794 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Roanoke, VA, which is 0.535 times less than the 1,485 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,633 degrees mean that there were 6.56 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 249 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($39,360) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($810) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,500) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Measure

In 2021, 0.836% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.859% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (1.68M), Bachelors Degree (1.44M), and Some college (1.41M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Roanoke, VA was $191,500 in 2021, which is 0.782 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $183,800 to $191,500, a 4.19% increase. The homeownership rate in Roanoke, VA is 68.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Roanoke, VA have an average commute time of 23.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Roanoke, VA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Roanoke, VA is $60,907. In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Roanoke, VA was Loudoun County, VA with a value of $156,821, followed by Falls Church city, VA and Fairfax County, VA, with respective values of $155,071 and $133,974.

Housing

Property

$191,500

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,426

$88,595

Median Property Taxes

±$2,120

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Roanoke, VA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Roanoke, VA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

68.7%

Homeownership

2021

68.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 68.7% of the housing units in Roanoke, VA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 68.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Roanoke, VA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Roanoke, VA was Loudoun County, VA with a value of $156,821, followed by Falls Church city, VA and Fairfax County, VA, with respective values of $155,071 and $133,974.

The following map shows all of the counties in Roanoke, VA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$60,907

Median Household Income

± $1,400

129k

Number of Households

± 2,981

In 2021, the median household income of the 129k households in Roanoke, VA grew to $60,907 from the previous year's value of $57,642.

The following chart displays the households in Roanoke, VA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Roanoke, VA is from Virginia.

0.476

2021 Wage GINI in Virginia

0.478

2020 Wage GINI in Virginia

In 2021, the income inequality in Virginia was 0.476 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.381% decline from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (80.1%)
Worked At Home (8.81%)
Carpooled (6.47%)

In 2021, 80.1% of workers in Roanoke, VA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.81%) and those who carpooled to work (6.47%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Roanoke, VA have a shorter commute time (23.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.49% of the workforce in Roanoke, VA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Roanoke, VA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Roanoke, VA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Roanoke, VA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Roanoke, VA (36.8k out of 306k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 55 - 64, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Roanoke, VA is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

92.4% of the population of Roanoke, VA has health coverage, with 49.8% on employee plans, 13.3% on Medicaid, 17% on Medicare, 10.3% on non-group plans, and 2.07% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Virginia see 1310 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.13% decrease from the previous year (1325 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1393 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 484 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

1,310 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Virginia

Primary care physicians in Virginia see an average of 1,310 patients per year. This represents a 1.13% decrease from the previous year (1,325 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Virginia in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.1% under 18 years, 18.8% between 18 and 34 years, 39.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 19.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

7.57%

Uninsured

49.8%

Employer Coverage

13.3%

Medicaid

17%

Medicare

10.3%

Non-Group

2.07%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Roanoke, VA declined by 3.92% from 7.88% to 7.57%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Roanoke, VA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.