Roanoke Named to 2025 Top 100 Best Place to Live List (and That’s No Accident)

Years of strategy, collaboration, and investment drive national recognition

Three people stand-up paddleboarding on Carvins Cove in Roanoke, VA.
Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP) at Carvins Cove in the Roanoke Region

Roanoke’s spot on Livability.com’s 2025 list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live is a proud moment for our region, but it’s not a surprise to those who’ve been part of the work that made it possible.

This accolade reflects more than just natural beauty and an affordable cost of living. It’s the result of years of intentional economic development, community-building, and place-making. At the Roanoke Regional Partnership, we’ve long understood that people choose places before they choose jobs and that building a thriving economy starts with creating a place where people want to grow, thrive, and belong.

Strategy That Pays Off

Runners competing in the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

In the early 2010s, we launched Roanoke Outside to attract outdoor businesses and position our region as a premier outdoor destination. That investment not only attracted new visitors and residents; it helped build a thriving outdoor economy complete with major events like the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and Anthem GO Outside Festival, as well as new business opportunities in recreation, gear, and guiding services. Today, Roanoke has built a national reputation for its trails, blueways, and metro-mountain energy.

A group of over 50 young professionals are gathered in a brewery to celebrate the completion of the Onboard ROA program put on by Get2KnowNoke.
Graduates of the 2024 Onboard ROA program facilitated by Get2KnowNoke

Later, we launched Get2KnowNoke to address a key challenge: talent attraction. Through a robust job board, relocation support, and a storytelling platform, Get2KnowNoke has helped thousands explore what it’s like to live and work in our region, giving both employers and newcomers the tools to succeed in the Roanoke Region.

These initiatives, along with strategic investments in infrastructure, business recruitment, and regional collaboration, have transformed Roanoke’s perception and performance on the national stage.

Recognition That Reflects Our Work

Livability.com evaluated more than 2,000 small to mid-sized cities based on affordability, economic strength, natural amenities, and sense of community. Roanoke’s inclusion reflects what we’ve built:

  • A cost of living that creates opportunity
  • A job market that is diverse and growing
  • A lifestyle that’s rooted in the outdoors and enriched by culture
  • A sense of place that people want to be part of
Blank Panther Exhibit at Taubman Museum of Art
The Black Panther Exhibition held at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia

This recognition is a reflection of the entire region’s efforts — from local governments and anchor institutions to entrepreneurs and community leaders — all working together to grow thoughtfully and sustainably.

What’s Next?

This momentum fuels our drive to keep building. Whether through new business recruitment, in-river kayak parks, or workforce development, the Roanoke Regional Partnership will continue to lead with that same strategic vision that’s gotten us here.

Roanoke isn’t just a great place to live because it got lucky —it’s a great place to live because we recognized our strengths and made them a part of our larger strategic plan. Explore the full Livability rankings here, or learn more about the work the Partnership does here.