© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Highland Springs.
Highland Springs 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.
About
Life in Highland Springs
Living in Highland Springs means settling into a quiet, majority African American and White community just east of Richmond where you're close enough to the city for work but far enough to avoid the urban hustle. The median home value around $227,300 with a median household income of $57,599 puts it in a solidly working-to-middle-class range, and the 3.3% unemployment rate suggests steady job availability, though many residents likely commute into Richmond proper for better career opportunities—your average commute is about 23 minutes. Summers are hot and humid, winters mild, so you're trading away crisp fall mornings for the reality of air conditioning bills and sticky weather from June through September.
Highland Springs at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Foreign-Born
4.1%
Broadband Internet
88.0%
of households
Population Growth
-8.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.1% foreign-born, most often from Sierra Leone
Who lives in Highland Springs: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highland Springs, the largest foreign-born group is from Sierra Leone (22.3%), and 1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
25.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.37
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 20% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland Springs
In Highland Springs, rent runs 20% below the VA average, and home values are 41% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,669
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $258,632 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Highland Springs and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Henrico County, which includes Highland Springs, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Highland Springs: Henrico County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Henrico County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Highland Springs is about 4% of Henrico County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Highland Springs 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
Commute23.3 min avg
How Highland Springs residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland Springs, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 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 52% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Henrico County Police Department, which covers Highland Springs, runs 52% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
158.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,805.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Henrico County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Henrico County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Henrico County, which includes Highland Springs, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $280,500 |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,540 |
| 2023 | 8 | Flash Flood | $12,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Heavy Rain | $97,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Heavy Rain | $11,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Heavy Rain | $54,000 |
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
Henrico County, county-wide
Highland Springs is about 4% of Henrico County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Henrico County, which includes Highland Springs, is typically good — 276 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
276
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Henrico County, county-wide
Highland Springs is about 4% of Henrico 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
Highland Springs 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
45.5"
Annual Snowfall
8.8"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
74
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
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 Highland Springs
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Highland Springs's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Richmond
Medical College of Virginia Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Richmond
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Mechanicsville
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.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland Springs
Highland Springs's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highland Springs (within 15 miles)
Virginia Commonwealth University
6.8 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
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (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: Richmond National Battlefield Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland Springs
Highland Springs has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Richmond National Battlefield Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Richmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
5 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
26 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
39 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
50 mi awayYorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
51 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
52 mi awayCities Near Highland Springs
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Highland Springs?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Highland Springs FAQ
Is Highland Springs, Virginia affordable?⌄
Highland Springs's median rent is $1,269/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,599/year. Median home value is $227,300.
Is Highland Springs, Virginia safe?⌄
Highland Springs is policed by the Henrico County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 159 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 1806 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland Springs, Virginia?⌄
Henrico County, which includes Highland Springs, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland Springs, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Highland Springs is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,269/month and median household income is $57,599/year. The median home value is $227,300. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland Springs, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Highland Springs 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