Where Are People Moving in Roanoke, VA?
IRS county-to-county migration, 2023 tax year (released about two years after the tax year it covers).
People moving in
2,082
People moving out
2,182
Net migration
-139
Roanoke, VA is a net loser of residents. In the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), 2,082 people moved in and 2,182 moved out, for a net loss of -139. Net outflows can soften local rent and price growth over time, though the cause matters as much as the number.
Migration is most useful read alongside the rest of the market. People move for jobs, affordability, climate, and lifestyle, and where they come from and go to says a lot about what a county is competing on. Below are the specific counties driving Roanoke, VA’s flows in each direction.
Top counties people moved to Roanoke, VA from
| Origin county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VAVirginia | 1,003 | 1,553 |
| Salem, VAVirginia | 265 | 431 |
| Franklin, VAVirginia | 163 | 264 |
| Botetourt, VAVirginia | 153 | 249 |
| Bedford, VAVirginia | 148 | 231 |
| Montgomery, VAVirginia | 101 | 156 |
| Lynchburg, VAVirginia | 49 | 74 |
| Fairfax, VAVirginia | 36 | 55 |
| Radford, VAVirginia | 28 | 35 |
| Guilford, NCNorth Carolina | 27 | 41 |
Top counties people left Roanoke, VA for
| Destination county | Returns | People |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VAVirginia | 1,080 | 1,916 |
| Salem, VAVirginia | 241 | 456 |
| Botetourt, VAVirginia | 159 | 320 |
| Bedford, VAVirginia | 157 | 271 |
| Franklin, VAVirginia | 144 | 277 |
| Montgomery, VAVirginia | 88 | 142 |
| Mecklenburg, NCNorth Carolina | 52 | 77 |
| Richmond, VAVirginia | 43 | 55 |
| Guilford, NCNorth Carolina | 38 | 72 |
| Henrico, VAVirginia | 31 | 46 |
“Returns” counts tax returns (a household proxy) that moved along each flow; “People” counts the individuals on those returns, when reported. IRS aggregate and foreign pseudo-rows are excluded. Informational only, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Are people moving to Roanoke, VA or leaving?
Roanoke, VA had a net loss of -139 residents in the latest IRS data (2023 tax year), with 2,082 people moving in and 2,182 moving out. Net migration is inflow minus outflow.
Where are people moving to Roanoke, VA from?
The largest sources of new Roanoke, VA residents are Roanoke, VA, Salem, VA, Franklin, VA. The full top-ten list of origin counties is in the table above.
Where do people leaving Roanoke, VA go?
People leaving Roanoke, VA most often move to Roanoke, VA, Salem, VA, Botetourt, VA. The full top-ten list of destination counties is in the table above.
What does Roanoke, VA migration mean for housing?
Migration is a leading demand signal. Sustained net inflows tend to support rents and home prices when supply cannot keep up, while net outflows can soften them. Read this alongside Roanoke, VA's price forecast, building permits, and affordability on the full county dashboard before drawing a conclusion.
How current is this Roanoke, VA migration data?
It comes from IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, which is released about two years after the tax year it covers; the figures above reflect the 2023 tax year. That lag is normal for this dataset, which counts actual tax returns rather than survey estimates.