The Roanoke metro is home to 314,661 people (up 0.4% over five years), with a median household income of $67,447. Typical rent of $1,400/month works out to 24.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Roanoke's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 26.7% |
| Retail trade | 11.1% |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% |
| Professional & management | 10.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Roanoke market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,400/month suggests a household income around $56,000/year. The metro's median household income is $67,447.
By workforce share: Education & health care (26.7%), Retail trade (11.1%), Manufacturing (10.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).