Roanoke city: Demographics & People
98,355 people call Roanoke city home, in 43,575 households. Median age 38.3 years. (0.5y older than Virginia). Population is 28% Black and 9% Hispanic or Latino. County is losing 54 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 68 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Current population 98,355; figures track the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimates.
| Population | 98,355 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
|---|---|
| Total Town Population | 100,011 people |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Age Distribution
Median age 38.3y is 0.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y).
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 98,355 |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 22,254 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 22,073.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 36,562.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 17,466 |
| Age Summary · Pct Under 18 | 22.6% |
| Age Summary · Pct 18 To 34 | 22.4% |
| Age Summary · Pct 35 To 64 | 37.2% |
| Median age | 38.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 98,355 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| Census Demographics · Total Population | 98,355 people |
|---|---|
| White residents | 55,840 |
| Black residents | 27,466 |
| Asian residents | 3,082 |
| Census Demographics · Aian | 136 |
| Census Demographics · Nhpi | 95 |
| Census Demographics · Other Race | 2,884 |
| Census Demographics · Two Or More Races | 8,852 |
| Diversity Index | 59.0% |
| Asian population | 3.1% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 27.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 9.0% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 12.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Census Citizenship · Total | 98,355 |
|---|---|
| Census Citizenship · Native | 90,469 |
| Residents born in this state | 62,840 |
| Residents born in another state | 26,447 |
| Census Citizenship · Foreign Born | 12,530 |
| Census Citizenship · Naturalized | 3,180 |
| Census Citizenship · Non Citizen | 1,182 |
| Foreign-born residents | 12.7% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Households & Family Composition
43,575 households.
| Family households | 22,455 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
|---|---|
| Total households | 43,575 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. The surrounding county is losing 54 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 85,680 |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 85,734 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -54 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2022-2023
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Census Disability · Total Pop | 96,802 |
|---|---|
| With Disability | 14,167 |
| Pct With Disability | 14.6% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 0 residents live in group quarters.
| Census Group Quarters · Total | 1,742 |
|---|
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Other
| Census Mobility · Total | 97,314 |
|---|---|
| Census Mobility · Same House | 85,973 |
| Census Mobility · Same County | 5,491 |
| Census Mobility · Diff County Same State | 3,558 |
| Census Mobility · Diff State | 2,141 |
| Census Mobility · From Abroad | 151 |
| Census Mobility · Moved Total | 11,341 |
| Census Mobility · Pct Moved In Year | 11.7% |
| Pct White | 56.8% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29