Roanoke city, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Roanoke city is located in Virginia with a total population of 98,677. It is the 19th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Roanoke city is 38.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Roanoke city is $52,671. This is 42% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.7%. This is 98% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $180,500. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 51.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Roanoke city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (28.5% vs 18.4%). The Asian population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

28.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.