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Living in
Bon Air.
Bon Air is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Bon Air
If you're considering Bon Air, you're looking at a stable, prosperous suburb just eight miles west of downtown Richmond where your money actually goes further than in many comparable communities. The community itself skews slightly older with a median age around 40, and about half the population holds a college degree, which shapes the culture toward professional families and established households; roughly 49% of homes are married-couple households, so you'll notice a lot of young families and empty nesters rather than a transient crowd. The historic core has genuine character—Victorian-era buildings from when Bon Air was originally a resort for wealthy Richmonders seeking fresh air away from the industrial city—but most of the CDP is suburban in layout, and you'll need a car for almost everything; your average commute runs about 21.6 minutes, mostly to Richmond jobs.
Bon Air at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
9.8%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.8% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Bon Air: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bon Air, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (21.8%), and 7.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
51.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
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 14% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Bon Air
In Bon Air, rent runs 14% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,749
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Bon Air and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chesterfield County, which includes Bon Air, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Bon Air: Chesterfield County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Chesterfield County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Bon Air is about 5% of Chesterfield County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Bon Air Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Richmond, VA metro area
Commute24.9 min avg
How Bon Air residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bon Air, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 96 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 51% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Chesterfield County Police Department, which covers Bon Air, runs 51% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
160.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,156.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Chesterfield County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chesterfield County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chesterfield County, which includes Bon Air, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $189,250 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51,500 |
| 2021 | 26 | Flash Flood | $134,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Heavy Rain | $51,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chesterfield County, county-wide
Bon Air is about 5% of Chesterfield County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chesterfield County, which includes Bon Air, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Chesterfield County, county-wide
Bon Air is about 5% of Chesterfield County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bon Air has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.1"
Annual Snowfall
8.8"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
74
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 29°F | 3.23" |
| Feb | 52°F | 30°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 60°F | 37°F | 4.00" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.18" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 4.00" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.64" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.37" |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.90" |
| Sep | 81°F | 61°F | 4.61" |
| Oct | 71°F | 49°F | 3.39" |
| Nov | 60°F | 39°F | 3.06" |
| Dec | 52°F | 32°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bon Air
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bon Air's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Cjw Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Richmond
Bon Secours St Marys Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Richmond
Richmond VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Richmond
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bon Air
Bon Air's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 55.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
55.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bon Air (within 15 miles)
Virginia Commonwealth University
6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 20,753 students · in-state tuition $17,490 · 68% graduate · median earnings $64,442 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,980 students · in-state tuition $67,840 · 86% graduate · median earnings $92,362 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,203 students · in-state tuition $19,660 · 41% graduate · median earnings $44,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
2.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 232 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 31% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (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: Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bon Air
Bon Air has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
15 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
23 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
49 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
49 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
53 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
55 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bon Air
Bon Air Library
9103 Rattlesnake Road, N. Chesterfield
Cities Near Bon Air
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bon Air?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bon Air FAQ
Is Bon Air, Virginia affordable?⌄
Bon Air's median rent is $1,799/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $101,879/year. Median home value is $365,200.
Is Bon Air, Virginia safe?⌄
Bon Air is policed by the Chesterfield County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 161 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1157 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bon Air, Virginia?⌄
Chesterfield County, which includes Bon Air, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bon Air, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Bon Air is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,799/month and median household income is $101,879/year. The median home value is $365,200. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bon Air, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Bon Air is 25 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