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Moving to
Short Pump.
Short Pump is an unincorporated community in Henrico County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Short Pump
Short Pump is an unincorporated community in Virginia with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Short Pump deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Short Pump compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Short Pump
Based on Short Pump's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,694
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $73,880 a year
- 40% of Short Pump renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$113,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $56,890
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 31% above US
$1,847/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,847 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $568,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $568,900 · 40% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Henrico County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Henrico County (county-wide)
Safety
159 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
Short Pump doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the Henrico County Police Department jurisdiction as a whole, which runs below the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 1806/100k · Policed by Henrico County Police Department (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 29% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 109% above US
75% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (12 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Short Pump's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,847/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), remote workers (29% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Short Pump
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