Per Capita Income for Roanoke MSA (Blacksburg: 2013, vs, moving)

[Mountain Living]

Just an interesting note I read from the U.S. Census Bureau on rankings of the 388 Metropolitan Statistical Areas as it relates to Roanoke.

Although Roanoke has a tiny metro population of 300,000 of only 4 counties we don't make an impact on Companies looking to
Relocate or expand. Our visibility to the outside world is growing with the proximity of growing Blacksburg new door. When and if the Feds decide to combine Roanoke -Blacksburg into one metro area we will have around 500,000 population. Some nearby metro areas have been granted up to 12 counties such as Knoxville, TN with 1 million population.

What really surprised me according to the 2013 census is that Roanoke has a ranking of 131 out of 388 metro
areas in the U.S. for per capita income. VA cities rank high on the list but since Roanoke has fallen behind other cities
in Va, Nc, etc on population growth, higher paying jobs coming here, I was surprised.

For comparison, Asheville is at 251, Greensboro at 249, Charlotte at 141.

For per capita income Roanoke must be gaining residents with money instead of low skilled workers. I continue to remain confused on why we have such poor retail opportunities with these impressive numbers.

[badger74]

Might also just be more single HHs. Much easier to have high PCI with just 1 or 2 people and both working vs family of 5 or 6 and 1 or 2 earners.

[Mountain Living]

Yes, there must be an explanation. Roanoke has a large retired population. I have always known there is old money here which explains the $70 million Art Museum whereas cities 4 times the size couldn't get the donors. I am seeing downtown evolving into a higher income enclave. I often wonder what happened to the poor people who inhabited that area, now gone. My hunch is
More higher income retirees are moving here as there are certainly no higher wage jobs coming to Roanoke.