Jonesboro AR 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)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

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

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

98,677

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

38.0

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

7.5%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

57.5%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

29.0%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

3.1%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

8.6%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Population	N/A	98,677	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	38.0	-
Foreign Born	N/A	7.5%	-
White	N/A	57.5%	-
Black	N/A	29.0%	-
Asian	N/A	3.1%	-
Hispanic	N/A	8.6%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

$52,671

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

$34,792

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Roanoke

$69,581

Roanoke +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

5.5%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

19.7%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

28.9%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$52,671	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$34,792	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$69,581	Roanoke +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	5.5%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	19.7%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	28.9%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Roanoke

$279,668

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

51.7%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$279,668	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	51.7%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Roanoke

240

Roanoke +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Roanoke

1726

Roanoke +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	240	Roanoke +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	1726	Roanoke +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Roanoke

41.9%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Roanoke

14.9%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Roanoke

18.4%

Roanoke +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Roanoke

11.0%

Roanoke +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Roanoke

14.7%

Roanoke +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Roanoke

16.7%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	41.9%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	14.9%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	18.4%	Roanoke +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	11.0%	Roanoke +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	14.7%	Roanoke +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	16.7%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Roanoke

56.0°F

Roanoke +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Roanoke

44.5 in

Roanoke +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	56.0°F	Roanoke +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	44.5 in	Roanoke +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Roanoke

8.2 µg/m³

Roanoke +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Roanoke

75.0%

Roanoke +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.2 µg/m³	Roanoke +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Roanoke +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Roanoke

21.6 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Roanoke, VA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	21.6 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Roanoke is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Roanoke has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Roanoke

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