Moving to Roanoke from Out of State

Where the valley is

Roanoke sits in the Blue Ridge on I-81, about 251 miles by car from Washington, 194 from Charlotte and 105 from Greensboro. The Roanoke Regional Partnership's area (the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the surrounding counties, and Vinton) is home to about 413,000 people, and the City of Roanoke to about 100,000.

It is big enough for a Level I trauma center, a medical school and an airport with daily nonstops, and small enough that downtown, the suburbs and the mountains are all close together.

Getting here and getting back

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is a short drive from downtown, with American, Delta, United and Allegiant. Nonstops include Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York LaGuardia, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles. Amtrak's Northeast Regional has left from downtown Roanoke since 2017, with two daily round trips toward Washington and the Northeast since 2022.

By car, Blacksburg is about 45 minutes, Lynchburg about an hour, Richmond about three hours, and Washington about four.

Pick the line before the house

The most useful early decision is which jurisdiction you want: the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem or Botetourt. It sets your tax rate, school division and utilities. Our guide to the city, the county and Salem lays it out side by side.

Make the trips count

Plan on at least two visits. On the first, drive the commute at rush hour, walk the neighborhoods you're considering, and stand on the street after dark. On the second, see the houses you've already narrowed down by video.

Before the first trip, tell your agent the non-negotiables: the commute, the jurisdiction, single-level living, a yard or a walkable street. A good agent can rule out half the valley before you get in the car.

Remote logistics are routine

Video tours, remote earnest money and remote closings are normal here. What isn't routine is a lender or inspector who has never worked on a hundred-year-old house or a well-and-septic property. Ask your agent for names who have.

Renting first is a fine idea

If you can't decide between Grandin and Cave Spring, or Salem and Daleville, a lease while you learn the valley is cheap insurance. Reach out anyway: there's no referral fee in a rental, but the person renting this year is often buying next year.