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Living in
Colonial Heights.
About
Life in Colonial Heights
This compact city of about 18,000 sits in the Tri-Cities area between Petersburg and Richmond, and it's genuinely affordable compared to the region—median home values hover around $246,600 with median household income at $76,250, which means you can actually afford to buy here without the sprawl-driven commute some Richmond suburbs demand. The unemployment rate sits at a healthy 3.2%, though the job market itself is anchored by regional employers rather than major corporate headquarters, so many residents commute to Petersburg, Richmond, or nearby areas for work (expect about 24 minutes on average). The community skews slightly older with a median age of 41.6 years, and it's genuinely diverse—white residents make up about 76%, with sizable African American, Asian, and Latino communities, which shows up in the local food scene and neighborhood character.
Colonial Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
+3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Colonial Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Colonial Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (15.6%), and 4.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.9%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.41
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 22% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Colonial Heights
In Colonial Heights, rent runs 22% below the VA average, and home values are 36% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,071
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,896 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Colonial Heights
Unemployment in Colonial Heights is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Colonial Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.5 min avg
How Colonial Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Colonial Heights, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 112 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 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Colonial Heights runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
419
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,601.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Colonial Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
6.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Colonial Heights County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Colonial Heights, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Winter Storm | $70,000 |
| 2024 | 2 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2023 | 3 | Flash Flood | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Weather | $84,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Heavy Rain | $15,000 |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Winter Weather | $23,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Colonial Heights city, county-wide
Air Quality6 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hopewell city, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 6 miles from Colonial Heights) is typically good — 48 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
6
Good Days
48
per year
Moderate Days
0
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hopewell city, VA (6 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Colonial Heights has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.5"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 3.02" |
| Feb | 52°F | 29°F | 2.70" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.37" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.62" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.37" |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.70" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 5.31" |
| Sep | 82°F | 61°F | 4.63" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.41" |
| Nov | 62°F | 37°F | 3.16" |
| Dec | 53°F | 31°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Colonial Heights
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Colonial Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Poplar Springs Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Petersburg
Bon Secours Southside Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Petersburg
John Randolph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Hopewell
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.
Education13.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights's student/teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Colonial Heights
Southside College of Health Sciences
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 151 students · 78% graduate · median earnings $77,002 (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: Petersburg National Battlefield, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petersburg National Battlefield (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
7 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
16 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
36 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awayYorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
50 mi awayFort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
63 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights Public Library
1000 Yacht Basin Drive, Colonial Heights
Cities Near Colonial Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Colonial Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Colonial Heights FAQ
Is Colonial Heights, Virginia affordable?⌄
Colonial Heights's median rent is $1,234/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $76,505/year. Median home value is $246,600.
Is Colonial Heights, Virginia safe?⌄
Colonial Heights's violent crime rate was 419 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3602 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Colonial Heights, Virginia?⌄
Colonial Heights has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Colonial Heights, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Colonial Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,234/month and median household income is $76,505/year. The median home value is $246,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Colonial Heights, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Colonial Heights is 26 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