Roanoke and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Roanoke
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs56 · Top 48%
Growth
37 · Bottom 29%
vs41 · Bottom 35%
Climate
77 · Top 13%
vs63 · Bottom 41%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 25%
vs68 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
92 · Bottom 43%
vs99 · Top 32%
Access
45 · Bottom 9%
vs54 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
55 · Top 45%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Roanoke | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 314,986 | 569,788 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,761 | $65,158 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,698 | $36,939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 169/sq mi | 326/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $251,400 | $187,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,043 | $1,003 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.6% | 67.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | 2.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 27.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 14.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 994 | 597 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -23.8% | -6.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.8" | 38.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 82 mi | 77 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.8 | 42.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Roanoke
61
Your Score
62
Area Score
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
61
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Roanoke, VA Metro Area · Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology