Fort Lauderdale FL vs Roanoke VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida · Population: 183,032
- Median HH Income$79,935
- Median Home Price$510,297
- Unemployment5.3%
- Bachelor's+39.8%
Roanoke, VA
Virginia · Population: 98,677
- Median HH Income$52,671
- Median Home Price$279,668
- Unemployment5.5%
- Bachelor's+28.9%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
98,677
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Roanoke
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
Roanoke
38.0
Roanoke +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
7.5%
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
Roanoke
57.5%
Roanoke +
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Roanoke
29.0%
Roanoke +
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
Roanoke
3.1%
Roanoke +
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
8.6%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Roanoke
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | 98,677 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 38.0 | Roanoke + |
| Foreign Born | 26.7% | 7.5% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| White | 51.3% | 57.5% | Roanoke + |
| Black | 28.8% | 29.0% | Roanoke + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 3.1% | Roanoke + |
| Hispanic | 20.1% | 8.6% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
$52,671
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
$34,792
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
Roanoke
$69,581
Roanoke +
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
5.5%
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
19.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
28.9%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,935 | $52,671 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Per Capita Income | $57,845 | $34,792 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $69,581 | Roanoke + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.5% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | 19.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 39.8% | 28.9% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
Roanoke
$279,668
Roanoke +
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
51.7%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $510,297 | $279,668 | Roanoke + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 51.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Roanoke
240
Roanoke +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
1726
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 240 | Roanoke + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1726 | Fort Lauderdale + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
41.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
14.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
Roanoke
11.0%
Roanoke +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Roanoke
14.7%
Roanoke +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
16.7%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 30.3% | 41.9% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 14.9% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 18.4% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 11.0% | Roanoke + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 14.7% | Roanoke + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 16.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
Roanoke
56.0°F
Roanoke +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
Roanoke
44.5 in
Roanoke +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 75.5°F | 56.0°F | Roanoke + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.5 in | 44.5 in | Roanoke + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
Roanoke
8.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
Roanoke
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
Roanoke
21.6 min
Roanoke +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roanoke, VA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.5 min | 21.6 min | Roanoke + |
Which City is Right for You?
Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while roanoke offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $279,668. On public safety, Roanoke is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.
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