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Living in
Richmond.
About
Life in Richmond
Living in Richmond means settling into a mid-sized capital city where government, law, and finance actually drive the job market—you'll find federal courts, a Federal Reserve Bank, and Fortune 500 companies like CarMax and Dominion Energy headquartered here, which keeps the economy relatively stable even when other metros struggle. The cost of living is genuinely reasonable: median home prices hover around $353,000 and rent averages $1,372 a month, making it affordable compared to most East Coast cities, though neighborhoods vary wildly—you could land in the gentrifying charm of Church Hill or the Victorian grandeur of the Fan, or choose more working-class areas on the Northside or Southside depending on your budget and vibe. The James River runs through the heart of the city creating natural recreation access, with parks like Byrd Park and Maymont offering weekend escapes, plus you're positioned between the Tidewater flatlands and the Blue Ridge Mountains if you want to get out for hiking, but honestly Richmond's appeal is more urban than outdoor—the restaurant scene alone has 677 spots, Jackson Ward's cultural legacy as the historic hub of African American commerce and culture still pulses through the city, and neighborhoods like Carytown offer walkable commercial strips where you'll actually run into people.
Richmond at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.2%
Foreign-Born
8.4%
Broadband Internet
86.2%
of households
Population Growth
+4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.4% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Richmond: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Richmond, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (17.4%), and 8.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.1%
of households
Married Couples
24.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
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 13% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Richmond
In Richmond, rent runs 13% below the VA average, and home values are 8% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,150
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $361,844 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Richmond and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Richmond 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 Richmond 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
Commute21.7 min avg
How Richmond residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Richmond, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 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 34% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Richmond runs 34% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
440.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,347.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Richmond Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Richmond County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Richmond, the most common type is flash flood, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Flash Flood | $43,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Flash Flood | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Flash Flood | $34,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Winter Storm | $19,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2019 | 3 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Weather | $35,000 |
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
Richmond city, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Richmond is typically good — 288 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
288
per year
Moderate Days
77
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Richmond city-wide
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Richmond 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
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" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 4.4/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Richmond
Richmond has 6 hospitals, averaging 4.4 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
8.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.4 / 5
Bon Secours St Marys Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Richmond VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Medical College of Virginia Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Medical College of Virginia Hospitals · 1250 East Marshall Street
- Outpatient center: Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery · 11958 W Broad St, Henrico
- Hospital campus: VCU Trauma Center · 2495 Pocahontas Trl, Quinton
Cjw Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Mechanicsville
Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.1 mi away · Midlothian
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Richmond
Richmond's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 45.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
59
within city limits
Private Schools
25
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University
Public · 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)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
3.3 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, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Richmond
Richmond has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
2 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
11 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
23 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
45 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
51 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
52 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
53 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
55 mi awayPublic Libraries in Richmond
The Main Library
101 East Franklin Street, Richmond
Belmont Library
3100 Ellwood Avenue, Richmond
Broad Rock Library
4820 Old Warwick Road, Richmond
East End Library
1200 North 25th Street, Richmond
Ginter Park Library
1200 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond
Hull Street Library
1400 Hull Street, Richmond
North Avenue Library
2901 North Avenue, Richmond
West End Library
5420 Patterson Avenue, Richmond
Westover Hills Library
1408 Westover Hills Boulevard, Richmond
Compare Richmond
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Richmond
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Richmond?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Richmond FAQ
Is Richmond, Virginia affordable?⌄
Richmond's median rent is $1,372/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $64,587/year. Median home value is $353,000.
Is Richmond, Virginia safe?⌄
Richmond's violent crime rate was 441 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3348 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Richmond, Virginia?⌄
Richmond has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Richmond, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Richmond is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,372/month and median household income is $64,587/year. The median home value is $353,000. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Richmond, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Richmond is 22 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