HEAD TO HEAD
Roanoke vs Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach leads Roanoke on 3 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Roanoke, VA
wins 2 of 5 factors
Virginia Beach, VA
wins 3 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Roanoke | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 ◆ | 82 |
| Affordable to rent | 80 ◆ | 63 |
| Climate comfort | 59 | 78 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 49 | 51 ◆ |
| Big-city amenities | 60 | 91 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Roanoke | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $301K | $374K |
| Typical rent | $1,403/mo | $1,862/mo |
| Average temperature | 11.8°C | 15.6°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.22 kWh/m²/day | 4.29 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #164 | #38 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.