Overview
A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES
Situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Roanoke Region of Virginia is a community of communities working together. The region is the largest metropolitan area in Western Virginia and home to communities and more than 300,000 residents.
With unmatched cultural and outdoor opportunities and an abundance of strong industry clusters, the region's residents represent a diversity of skills and interests. Detailed information about the region and its communities is provided throughout this section.
Located along Interstates 81 and 64, the region is equidistant from New York and Atlanta; 230 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 250 miles west of the Port of Hampton Roads.
With unmatched cultural and outdoor opportunities and an abundance of strong industry clusters, the region's residents represent a diversity of skills and interests. Detailed information about the region and its communities is provided throughout this section.
Located along Interstates 81 and 64, the region is equidistant from New York and Atlanta; 230 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 250 miles west of the Port of Hampton Roads.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
- Land Area: 2,322 square miles
- Elevation: 1,149 feet
- Four distinct seasons
- Average January low: 27.2o F
- Average July high: 87.0o F
- Average Annual Rainfall: 41.13
AFFORDABLE
- Cost of Living is below the national average, Roanoke: 95.3 U.S.: 100 (ACCRA Cost of Living Index 2009 Annual Review)
- Per Capita income $35,531 (BEA 2008)
- Average commute is 20.6 minutes, compared to the national average of 25.5 minutes
- Average home price $188,797 compared to U.S. average of $212,000 (January 2010)
BEST FOR BUSINESS
- Ranked in the Top 100 Best Places for Business and Careers and Top 15 Most Affordable Places for Doing Business by Forbes.com
- Wide range of skill sets, with new job seekers entering the market annually.
- Nationally recognized training programs and facilities
ACCLAIMED EDUCATION
- Six public school systems offering a variety of nationally recognized educational programs.
- High concentration of higher education institutions, with 20 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius.
CONVENIENT
- Located along Interstates 81 and 64 and several major four lane highways.
- Equidistant from New York and Atlanta
- Accessible to two-thirds of US population in one day's shipping time.
- Roanoke Regional Airport is served by 4 airlines with non-stop service to 8 cities, 6 by jet.
- Rail service by Norfolk Southern and CSX and Amtrak passenger service to New York City and Chicago 3 days a week.
- More than 70 trucking lines serve the Roanoke Region with local, state, and interstate freight service.
- Region is considered a foreign trade zone.
QUALITY OF LIFE
- Diverse arts community exemplified by the new Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke.
- Offers nationally recognized outdoor recreation including cycling, fishing, water sports, hiking, camping, sports leagues, and clubs.
- Home to professional baseball team, NCAA sports programs including the Virginia Tech Hokies.
- Celebrated natural and historical sites including the Booker T. Washington Monument, Smith Mountain Lake, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.