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Living in
Radford.
About
Life in Radford
Living in Radford means joining a smaller college town (16,505 residents) where Radford University shapes much of the community's character and energy. The job market is modest but stable—unemployment sits at 4.5%, and while the historic Arsenal nearby employed generations of locals, today's economy is more diversified around the university and regional employers. You'll find a median household income of about $57,348 with a cost of living that won't break you: median rent runs $1,033 a month and homes average $220,700, making it genuinely affordable compared to most of Virginia.
Radford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
23.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.7%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
+7.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Radford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Radford, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (19.4%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
12.5%
of residents
65 and Older
9.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.7%
of households
Married Couples
30.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 35% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Radford
In Radford, rent runs 35% below the VA average, and home values are 42% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,581
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $271,982 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above VA average
Unemployment in Radford
Unemployment in Radford is 1.1 percentage points higher than the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Radford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.3 min avg
How Radford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Radford, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
Regional airport · few flights417k passengers boarded in 2025
- 134 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M 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 24% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Radford runs 24% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
249.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
811.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Radford Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
2.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Radford County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Radford, the most common type is winter storm, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2023 | 3 | Drought | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,700 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9,500 |
| 2020 | 5 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 11 | Winter Storm | $120,000 |
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
Radford city, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Giles County, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from Radford) is typically good — 337 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
337
per year
Moderate Days
20
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Giles County, VA (16 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Radford has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.0"
Annual Snowfall
21.7"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 23°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 2.68" |
| Mar | 54°F | 31°F | 3.64" |
| Apr | 65°F | 40°F | 3.66" |
| May | 73°F | 49°F | 4.50" |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 3.94" |
| Jul | 84°F | 61°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.68" |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 3.58" |
| Oct | 67°F | 41°F | 2.94" |
| Nov | 55°F | 32°F | 2.81" |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 3.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Radford
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Radford's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Carilion New River Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Christiansburg
Lewisgale Hospital Montgomery
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Blacksburg
Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.5 mi away · Pulaski
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.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Radford
Radford's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Radford
Public · 4-year · 6,038 students · in-state tuition $12,952 · 59% graduate · median earnings $59,134 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
10.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,923 students · in-state tuition $16,450 · 87% graduate · median earnings $88,716 (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: Bluestone National Scenic River, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Radford
Radford has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Bluestone National Scenic River (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Bluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
38 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
46 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
57 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
79 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
79 mi awayAppomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Radford
Radford Public Library
30 West Main St., Radford
Cities Near Radford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Radford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Radford FAQ
Is Radford, Virginia affordable?⌄
Radford's median rent is $1,033/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,348/year. Median home value is $220,700.
Is Radford, Virginia safe?⌄
Radford's violent crime rate was 250 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 812 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Radford, Virginia?⌄
Radford has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Radford, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Radford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,033/month and median household income is $57,348/year. The median home value is $220,700. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Radford, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Radford is 18 minutes, which is shorter than 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