What it's like to live in Radford
Radford is a small city in Virginia with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Radford deals with household incomes below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Radford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Radford
Based on Radford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,066
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $41,320 a year
- 52% of Radford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,070
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 27% below US
$1,033/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,033 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $220,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $220,700 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 24% below US
250 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 812/100k · Radford Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 30% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Bluestone National Scenic River (38 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Radford's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,033/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Radford
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