Moving to Richmond
What you need to know before relocating to Richmond, Virginia. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Richmond a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Richmond compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include median household income ($84,332) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.8%) signals a strong job market; violent crime rate (236/100k) is well below the national average.
Richmond at a Glance
Cost of Living in Richmond
The median rent in Richmond is $1,491/month, while the median home value is $357,600. With a median household income of $84,332, residents spend roughly 21% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Richmond metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Richmond has a median household income of $84,332, which is 13% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.8%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Richmond
The violent crime rate in Richmond is 236 per 100,000 residents, which is 38% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1659 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Virginia
Virginia has a high school graduation rate of 93% and per-pupil spending of $19,546/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
42% of Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Virginia has 304 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.2% uninsured rate, and 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Virginia is 77.7 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Richmond
+Pros
- ✓Median household income ($84,332) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.8%) signals a strong job market
- ✓Violent crime rate (236/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 93%
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (579133 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond a good place to live?⌄
Richmond, Virginia has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including median household income ($84,332) exceeds the national median and low unemployment rate (2.8%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Richmond?⌄
The median rent in Richmond is $1,491/month and the median home value is $357,600. The median household income is $84,332. Overall the metro is considered average.
Is Richmond safe?⌄
Richmond has a violent crime rate of 236 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Richmond?⌄
Richmond has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $84,332.