Retiring to Roanoke, VA? Here's the Honest Answer (2026)

Retiring to Roanoke, VA? Real 2026 breakdown for retirees. Call: +1 (828) 808-3523 I'm Brandon White, owner and broker at Big Lick Realty Group, brokered by Keller Williams. I help retirees relocate to the Roanoke Valley every week. Honest local numbers, no fluff. In this video: • Why retirees from Northern Virginia, Florida, and the Northeast are quietly moving to Roanoke • Roanoke cost of living for retirees (housing, groceries, utilities) • Virginia tax benefits: Social Security exemption, $12K retirement deduction, 0.76% property tax • Carilion Clinic and the level-one trauma center (the healthcare answer) • The honest cons most retirees skip • Who Roanoke is genuinely perfect for in retirement 📍 CHAPTERS 0:00 Retiring to Roanoke, Virginia: The Honest Answer 0:30 Why Retirees Are Quietly Moving to Roanoke in 2026 1:30 Cost of Living for Retirees in Roanoke, VA 3:00 Virginia Tax Benefits for Retirees: Social Security and Pensions 4:30 Roanoke Healthcare: Why Carilion Clinic Matters for Retirees 5:30 Outdoor Retirement in Roanoke: Trails, Lakes, and the Blue Ridge 6:30 The Pace of Life and Community in Roanoke 7:30 The Honest Cons: Transportation, Shopping, and State Tax Notes 9:30 Who Roanoke Is Genuinely Perfect for in Retirement 🏡 WORK WITH BRANDON 📞 +1 (828) 808-3523 📧 [email protected] 🌐 sellbiglick.com Roanoke, Virginia is quietly becoming one of the most retirement-friendly small cities in the country. The math is hard to argue with: a solid retirement home runs $270,000 to $400,000 depending on zip code, Virginia does not tax Social Security at all, retirees 65 and older can deduct up to $12,000 in additional retirement income, and the property tax rate sits around 0.76% (well below the national average). Add Carilion Clinic right downtown, a level-one trauma center serving all of Southwest Virginia, the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway essentially in your backyard, and a city of 100,000 (300,000 in the greater valley) where you can actually know your neighbors. People are moving here from Northern Virginia, Florida, and the Northeast for exactly that combination. The Roanoke Valley is not for every retiree. If you need walkable transit access without a car, or you depend on Whole Foods and Nordstrom-tier retail, you'll want to plan around those gaps. But for active retirees who want mountain access, real healthcare, lower stress, and a community that still feels like one, retiring to Roanoke is a serious move worth running the numbers on. 🔔 New Roanoke living guide every week:    / @livinginroanokevalley   #RoanokeVirginia #RoanokeRetirement #RetiringToVirginia #MovingToRoanoke Brandon White | Owner, Broker, Realtor Big Lick Realty Group, brokered by Keller Williams 3060 Electric Rd, Roanoke, VA 24018 Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia