The Alleghany Highlands – and the entire Roanoke Region – enjoy a low cost of living, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Survey. The survey measures the costs of 57 goods and services, including groceries, utilities, housing, transportation, clothing items, healthcare, etc.Low costs of living benefit both families and business.
| First Quarter 2013 | |
|---|---|
| Newark | 134.0 |
| Chicago | 114.8 |
| Asheville | 103.6 |
| Cleveland | 102.2 |
| Richmond | 102.1 |
| National Average | 100.0 |
| Charleston, SC | 99.5 |
| Atlanta | 96.6 |
| Pittsburgh | 95.6 |
| Roanoke | 90.5 |
Source: C2ER Cost of Living Survey
Electric Rates
Dominion Virginia Power serves the Alleghany Highlands and offers rates that are below the national average and below many other communities.
| Cents per kW Hour 50,000 kW Demand/25,000,000 kWh per Month |
|
| New York City | 20.0 |
| Boston | 13.5 |
| Newark | 11.7 |
| Atlanta | 8.7 |
| National Average | 8.5 |
| Detroit | 7.4 |
| Raleigh | 7.2 |
| Cleveland | 7.1 |
| Alleghany Highlands | 6.5 |
| Roanoke | 5.0 |
Source: Edison Electric Institute, for Summer 2011 rates
Housing
From mountain-top retreats to in-town fixer-uppers, the Alleghany Highlands housing stock offers a wide variety. Executives and first-time buyers, families and retirees can find the home of their dreams.
The current average of all homes on the market is $138,680 well below the national average home price of $221,200.
Foreclosure activity is very low in the Alleghany Highlands Labor Shed. According to Realtytrac.com, there were just 13 foreclosures in the region in January 2013, which is one per every 5,555 housing units. In comparison, there was foreclosure activity on one of every 1,658 housing units in Virginia.
