Roanoke (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
No data center or power plant project is on record in Roanoke (city), but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Roanoke (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Construction employs 4,790, up 19.8% since 2019, and construction is 1.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 448, up 3.5% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $69,127 a year. Employers here counted 66,348 jobs in 2025, up 0.8% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Roanoke (city)
Roanoke (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Roanoke (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 99,903 | 99,111 | ▼ 0.8% | 20th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 65,803 | 66,348 | ▲ 0.8% | 68th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $48,292 | $64,594 | ▲ 33.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,997 | 4,790 | ▲ 19.8% | 26th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 433 | 448 | ▲ 3.5% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 671 | 904 | ▲ 34.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 3.9% | ▲ 0.9pts | — |
99,111 people live here, down 0.8% since 2020.
Who powers Roanoke (city)
No operating power plant is located in Roanoke (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Roanoke (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 66,348 | $64,594 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 4,790 | $76,479 | 1.36 |
| Electrical contractors | 448 | $69,127 | 0.94 |
| Power and communication line construction | 904 | $102,481 | 8.44 |
| Data processing and hosting | 7 | $96,080 | 0.03 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Roanoke (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Roanoke (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Roanoke (city) and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Roanoke (city), Roanoke County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke (city) | 99,111 | ▲ 0.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Roanoke County | 97,150 | ▼ 4.6% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Salem (city) | 25,816 | ▲ 6.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Roanoke (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Roanoke (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Roanoke (city).
What county is Roanoke, VA in?
Roanoke is in Roanoke (city), Virginia. About 99,111 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Roanoke (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 66,348 jobs in 2025 against 65,803 in 2019 (+0.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 3,997 to 4,790.
Does Roanoke (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Roanoke (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.