Lynchburg, VA vs Roanoke, VA

Roanoke is moderately more affordable than Lynchburg, with a 6.2% lower cost of living index. Lynchburg scores 81 compared to 76 for Roanoke, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lynchburg can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lynchburg is $1,043/month compared to $964/month in Roanoke — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Roanoke is more affordable at $180,500 median vs $211,800.

Median household income in Lynchburg is $59,808 compared to $52,671 in Roanoke (+13.6%). While Lynchburg is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lynchburg spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, less than the 22% in Roanoke.