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Living in
Richmond.
About
Life in Richmond
If you're considering Richmond, know that you're looking at a college town with real substance beyond the campus. Eastern Kentucky University anchors the economy and keeps the population relatively young—the median age is 29—but this isn't a place where the university completely dominates daily life. You've got solid job diversity in healthcare, education, and retail, with a reasonable 4.8% unemployment rate and an average commute of about 24 minutes.
Richmond at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.5%
Foreign-Born
3.6%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
+15.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Richmond: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Richmond, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.6%), and 2.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.0%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.9%
of households
Married Couples
29.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for KY
Rent, home values, and income in Richmond
Rent and home values here are close to the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,713
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $299,053 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Richmond
Unemployment in Richmond is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Richmond Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23 min avg
How Richmond residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Richmond, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
Small hub796k passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Richmond runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
243
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,630
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Richmond Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
74.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Richmond, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $195,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jessamine County, KY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Richmond) is typically good — 285 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
285
per year
Moderate Days
78
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jessamine County, KY (19 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Richmond has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
1.3"
Hot Days/Year
26
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
108
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 23°F | 3.58" |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 3.69" |
| Mar | 57°F | 32°F | 4.73" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 4.57" |
| May | 76°F | 52°F | 5.40" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.90" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 5.42" |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 3.66" |
| Sep | 79°F | 55°F | 3.94" |
| Oct | 69°F | 42°F | 3.54" |
| Nov | 57°F | 32°F | 3.32" |
| Dec | 47°F | 28°F | 4.15" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Richmond
Richmond has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Baptist Health Richmond
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
CHI Saint Joseph Berea Nf
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Berea
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Richmond
Richmond's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 34.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Richmond
Public · 4-year · 12,318 students · in-state tuition $10,740 · 51% graduate · median earnings $50,885 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,513 students · in-state tuition $55,480 · 65% graduate · median earnings $48,071 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Camp Nelson National Monument, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Richmond
Richmond has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Camp Nelson National Monument (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Camp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
85 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
85 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Richmond
Madison County Public Library
507 West Main Street, Richmond
Cities Near Richmond
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Richmond?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Richmond FAQ
Is Richmond, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Richmond's median rent is $917/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $50,870/year. Median home value is $214,900.
Is Richmond, Kentucky safe?⌄
Richmond's violent crime rate was 243 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1630 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Richmond, Kentucky?⌄
Richmond has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Richmond, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Richmond is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $917/month and median household income is $50,870/year. The median home value is $214,900. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Richmond, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Richmond is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from