$162,101Average Value$152Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
On the road between Salem and Roanoke for 200-plus years
South Washington Heights sits along U.S. Route 460, a road created in the mid-1700s and used for traveling between Salem and Big Lick, the community that predated Roanoke. The roadway originally followed the path carved by herds of bison and has evolved into four lanes of traffic. Still, it remains a link between the cities of Salem and Roanoke, and the South Washington Heights neighborhood is noted for its proximity to both. This community of 200 homes is in the city of Roanoke, but it’s less than 3 miles from downtown Salem. That's why price-conscious homebuyers who want to be near Salem "tend to purchase in that area, where it fits their budget while being on that Salem line,” says Alex Taylor, a Realtor with Mac Westland Real Estate Group who’s active in the Roanoke market.
Home to Roanoke cemeteries for 130 years
The most common type of greenery in and around South Washington Heights is the trimmed landscapes of three historical cemeteries. St. Andrew’s Cemetery and Fair View Cemetery were established in the 1890s, while C.C. Williams Memorial Park opened in 1901 as a burial place for Roanoke’s African American community. The closest park is Strauss Park, located less than a mile south along Peters Creek. Parkgoers can have shaded picnics, play on the jungle gym or compete in games of tennis or basketball. The basketball court is one of six in Roanoke designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. When locals want to cycle or hike alongside the Roanoke River, they can head 3 miles south to park and enter the Roanoke River Greenway. The 14-mile trail follows the river east to the point where it converges with Tinker Creek. Directly north of the neighborhood is Roanoke Country Club, where initiation fees for new members range from $500 to $3,000.
Stores and eateries along Peters Creek Road
Peters Creek Road on the west end of the neighborhood has developed in recent years, Taylor says. Residents can access about 10 restaurants in a 2-mile drive north or south on the road. They include fast-food chains, sit-down restaurants serving Mexican cuisine and Roanoke Weiner Stand No. 2, a hot dog shop selling chili dogs and sloppy joes since 1984. Along that same stretch of Peters Creek Road are Food Lion, Family Dollar and CVS. Locals can make quick grocery runs across the street from South Washington Heights at Roanoke Grocery Market. The store specializes in kosher and halal foods, and it has an in-house butcher and bakery. It’s about 3 miles to Valley View Mall, home to 80 stores and surrounded by big-box stores such as Walmart and Target. Houses of worship include Jesus is Lord Assembly of Love, a church that held its first service in 1999. Across Salem Turnpike from South Washington Heights is Masjid An-Nur, one of three masjids in Roanoke.
Small homes, small price tags
South Washington Heights is generally split between single-family homes on the west side and apartments on the east end. Homes are compact, with minimal traditional houses commonly smaller than 1,000 square feet. That’s the most typical architectural style, but there are occasional ranch and Craftsman designs with more than 1,100 square feet of living space. Regardless of style, houses often sit on tight lots with few trees and gravel driveways. Homebuyers can expect to pay between $115,000 and $200,000. Even for this side of Roanoke, prices are on the lower end. The median sales price of $150,000 is cheaper than the median price of three of the surrounding four neighborhoods.
Robot-drawn traffic garden at Westside Elementary
Children are less than a mile from Westside Elementary School, operated by Roanoke City Public Schools. Graded a C by Niche, Westside Elementary is home to a “traffic garden,” a course of miniature painted roadways, bike lanes and traffic signs. Kids can bike around the course to learn the rules of the road. A robot painted the traffic lanes and crosswalks, making it the first traffic garden in the world installed robotically. Older students can attend C-rated Lucy Addison Middle School and William Fleming High School, which gets a C-plus.
Play basketball, grill out at Envision Center
About a mile west is the Roanoke Envision Center, operated by the Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority. The center help helps people find jobs, holds financial workshops and offers a spot for people to gather and grill out in the summer. People can also volunteer to work in the center’s community garden, learning gardening tricks in the process.
Quick trips to downtown Salem, Roanoke
There are few sidewalks and limited crosswalks across Route 460, making South Washington Heights residents reliant on cars. It’s a straight shot on Route 460 to downtown Salem and downtown Roanoke, 3 and 4 miles away respectively. It’s a 3-mile drive to Interstate 81, which runs the length of Virginia. Once an hour, a city bus stops along Melrose Avenue as it shuttles between downtown Salem and downtown Roanoke.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Robert Kern,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field)
11 min drive
Bus
Melrose Eb & 35th
Bus
Melrose Eb & Monroe
Bus
Melrose Eb & Van Buren
South Washington Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Washington Heights, Roanoke sell after 108 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in South Washington Heights, Roanoke over the last 12 months is $119,000, down 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy the option of one-level living in this fully furnished, move in ready home Recently renovated including an all new kitchen and bathroom, this home boasts of refinished hardwood floors throughout, new replacement windows and an efficient heat pump with a transferable warranty. The flat, fenced-in yard offers ideal outdoor space for relaxation or play. A perfect blend of style, comfort, and
Under new management!!!! The Cove at Peters Creek is a hidden gem conveniently located in Roanoke close to shopping, dining, and easy access to major highways. The Cove at Peters Creek is professionally managed and provides all the luxuries of apartment living. From 24 -hour emergency maintenance, professional landscaping, to online payments and service requests. Stop by our leasing office
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Robert Kern,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,594
Median Age
30
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
36.8%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$21,325
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$31,425
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
72.4%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
2.1%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
1%
% Population in Labor Force
68.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
29°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
32/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
45/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
28/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
