In Roanoke city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Roanoke city, 29.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 95% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 81% of U.S. counties.
What drives Roanoke city's score
In Roanoke city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 78.3. Late payments on loans come next, at 74.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Roanoke city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Roanoke city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (14.6%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.9%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 78.3 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.9% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income29.4% · fiscal year 202795th percentile
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- 74.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.6% · August 202567th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.5% · August 202578th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.4% · second quarter of 202678th percentile
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- 74.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector31.9% · August 202578th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people177 · 202569th percentile
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- 64.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line16.2% · 202471st percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.1% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability14.6% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
- People without health insurance9.8% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$59,858 · 202471st percentile
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- 50.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202646th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.4% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Roanoke city comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Roanoke city, 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Roanoke city
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Roanoke city, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Roanoke city, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Roanoke city getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 15.2% in 2010 to 17.7% in 2011.
The share of households in Roanoke city getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 16.9%
Low on the chart: 13.1% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Roanoke city, Virginia.
How Roanoke city has changed
Roanoke city's population rose 5% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1974 and 1979
High on the chart: 101,981 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Roanoke city, Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Roanoke city had its largest drop, from 70,866 in 2005 to 65,552 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Roanoke city fell 14% from 1990 to 2020, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 75,748 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Roanoke city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.6% | 2025 3.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.9% | 2024 16.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,704 | 2024 $59,858 |
The table uses 3.6% for 2025; the score uses 3.9% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Roanoke city's history
1874
Community formerly known as Big Lick, became Town of Big Lick in 1874. Wikipedia
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 100,220. The 2020 Census counted 100,011, 100% of the peak. Census Bureau
1982
Norfolk and Western Railway moved headquarters from Roanoke to Norfolk in 1982 and vacated downtown office in 2015. Wikipedia
2002
A thunderstorm in May 2002 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flood in September 2018 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
Norfolk Southern shut down locomotive shops May 18 2020, moved operations to Altoona Pennsylvania. Wikipedia
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Since 1972
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Roanoke city, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Roanoke city beside its neighbors
Roanoke city scores higher than all two counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke city, VA | 81 | 16.2% | 28.6% |
| Salem city, VA | 38 | 9.6% | — |
| Roanoke County, VA | 16 | 7.1% | — |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Roanoke city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Roanoke city's poverty rate was 16.2% in 2024, 36th highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Roanoke city ranks 27th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Roanoke city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Commonwealth Catholic Charities
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Total Action for Progress in Roanoke VA
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Blue Ridge Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Roanoke city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.