Living in Richmond, VA
Mid-size city in Virginia
Richmond is a mid-size city in Virginia, home to about 228,000 people, with 717,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Historic, artsy and mid-sized, with a river running through it, about two hours from DC.
Is Richmond a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Easy flying: RIC is 9 mi away
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $339k and rents for $2,070 a month
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 717,000 people live within 31 mi
- Few dog parks: 18 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Richmond ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Richmond: common questions
What is the cost of living in Richmond?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $339k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,070 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Richmond?
Virginia collects about $2,198 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.86% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Richmond safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Richmond?
Richmond has cool winters: winter days average around 50°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 9″ of snow a year.
Does Richmond get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.27 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Richmond?
The nearest major airport is RIC, about 9 mi away.
How Richmond scores
Each bar compares Richmond with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Richmond right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.