
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995                   TAG: 9505040073
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE'S A CHEAP CITY

Living costs in the Roanoke Valley were lower than in 90 percent of 300 communities across the nation that answered a recent survey.

The Roanoke region scored 91.3 on a scale in which 100 represents the national average for living costs. The survey area included the cities of Roanoke and Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt counties.

The voluntary, quarterly survey is conducted by ACCRA, a nonprofit research organization in Louisville, Ky.

Rankings for the last three months of 1994 covered 304 communities of varying sizes that provided information about the cost of food, utilities, housing, transportation, health care and miscellaneous services including dry cleaning and automotive repair.

Anne Piedmont, research director at the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, said only 27 communities were found to have lower costs than the Roanoke area. The partnership shares the survey with companies considering a move to the area.

The most affordable community surveyed was Kennett, Mo., which scored 85.2. Among the costlier places were the New York City metro area (228.3); Kodiak, Alaska (157); and the Washington, D.C., area (132.4).

The survey revealed stark differences between the costs of some items in affordable and high-cost areas. Rent for a 950-square-foot, two-bedroom home averaged $497 in Roanoke and $723 in Los Angeles. A 1-pound package of Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage averaged $2.27 here and $2.75 in Los Angeles.

The Roanoke area ranked closest in living costs to Pueblo, Colo..

by CNB