Here’s a demographic look at how the city is changing.
Projects
Posted inOpinion
For most of this decade, Southwest and Southside Virginia have had some of the fastest wage growth in the U.S.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts both regions in the top 10 in the country. Their wages remain below average, but they’ve been closing the gap at a faster rate than most.
Posted inOpinion
44% of the Roanoke Valley’s population growth is in Salem. Roanoke ranks last for attracting newcomers.
A tale of two cities: A look at how demographic changes are reshaping Roanoke and Salem in different ways.
Posted inSouthwest Area
State to increase funding caps for work on bridges and retaining walls under proposed changes to flood relief program
The current spending limits have been a barrier to more Southwest Virginia residents getting help to rebuild.
Posted inSouthwest Area
Changes to flood relief will streamline claims, increase spending caps for Southwest Virginia victims, governor’s office says
As of Thursday, more than $42 million of the $50 million allocated to help residents had not yet been disbursed.
Posted inSouthwest Area
For renters locked out of state assistance, the road to flood recovery is long
The $50 million set aside by the General Assembly for recovery following floods that devastated Southwest Virginia in late 2024 and early 2025 apply only to “real property,” meaning renters are out of luck.
Posted inSouthwest Area
As $43 million for Southwest flood relief remains unspent, residents who can’t afford to fix their homes wait for help
A year ago, the General Assembly appropriated $50 million for recovery following widespread floods that devastated Southwest Virginia in 2024 and 2025. Disbursement has been slow.
Posted inOpinion
Roanoke Valley and Richmond metro have become magnets for people moving out of Fairfax County.
The percentage of people who move out of Fairfax County into other parts of Virginia is increasing, according to IRS data.
Posted inOpinion
Here’s what’s fueling Danville’s ‘comeback’: The number of people moving out has dropped
After losing population for three decades in a row, Danville is now gaining population again. It’s not because more people are moving in; it’s because fewer people are moving out.
Posted inOpinion
The people moving out of Virginia make more money than the people moving in
We delve into a new batch of IRS data that sheds light on migration trends. The most affluent group of taxpayers moving into Virginia are immigrants who chose Loudoun County, not native-born Americans. First of a three-part series.
