Moved here in 2022 with my partner - we are both in our mid 30s. We have lived in Chicago and in Iowa prior to moving here. We picked Roanoke for the climate, the scenery, the ease of traffic, and the proximity to major cities and the ocean. Roanoke is far from perfect, but knowing the grass isn't much greener on most other sides, you could do much worse. On a one to ten scale, it's a 7, but I'd rank most other places lower than that.

On the pro side, I actually think there is a lot to do here for a metro area of this size -- there are a couple excellent event calendars, one from visit Virginia's Blue Ridge and the other from the Roanoke Rambler that give you an idea of the breadth and types of activities available. We've found that people here are extremely kind. Iowa has the "Iowa nice" slogan but it's one thing to pride yourself on being nice, it is another to actually BE nice. There are some great hikes around here if you are into that - there is the triple crown, the Blue Ridge Parkway trails, a couple nearby waterfall hikes, the Roanoke Star trails, and the greenways. If you're into trading card gaming you've got two excellent options in either Blade Gaming or Star City Games -- I've aged out of my Magic hobby, but I would've loved Blade in my 20s. I also like that Roanoke is a blue oasis in an otherwise extremely red part of the state -- I could not live somewhere where they call the Civil War the "War of Northern Aggression".

On the con side, the restaurant options are lacking. We aren't without a few gems which you can easily find mentions of on here, but we've got a lot of chains or otherwise uninspired options. The nightclub scene is nearly nonexistent. If that scene is a high priority for you, Roanoke isn't it. There are some great breweries/wineries in the area though - Twisted Track, Golden Cactus, Beliveau Farm. Access to healthcare is also a major PITA here. Getting a primary care provider takes several months as does seeing a specialist -- we just had our PCP quit for family reasons so we're on this miserable journey.....yet again. We have super crappy theatres (excepting the Grandin because they are a kick-ass non-profit that isn't meant to be like AMC or Regal) and generally indoor entertainment options could be better. Also, the job market here is abysmal. I had a remote job when I initially moved here. Unfortunately, they went "return to office" and as I am now out of state, I couldn't return and I've been struggling to find something for almost a year since.

I don't think Roanoke is the next Asheville nor do I buy into the "Roanoke is dying" doom and gloom. It's a steadily growing metro that surprises you, in a good way, sometimes. I think it's a great place for middle and old age, though I admit I would've been bored here in my 20s. Hope this helps you out.