Below Average CostNear National AverageRichmond City Public Schools
A downtown view of Richmond, VA · Bruce Emmerling / CC BY-SA 4.0St. John's Church in Richmond, VA (2011) IMG 4046 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Street Scene along Monument Avenue - Richmond - Virginia - USA - 02 (32839955447) · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0State Capitol of the Commonwealth of Virginia (7358972234) · Ron Cogswell / CC BY 2.0
Richmond is a mid-sized city of 227,171 in Virginia, with a median household income of $59,606
and a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Richmond stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Richmond is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Richmond city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.0
Richmond's overall cost of living index is 98.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Richmond costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Richmond, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$308,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,227
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
43.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,606
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Richmond's violent crime rate is 336.9 per 100,000 residents
— 11% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
336.9 /100k
Property Crime
3179.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Richmond is served primarily by Richmond City Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Richmond, VA
National Avg
School District
Richmond City Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
26
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
10
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
44.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Richmond sees average highs of 47.8°F in January
and 89.5°F in July,
with 47.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.8 inches of snow per year.
Richmond's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Richmond roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $308,300 and median rent is $1,227/month.
Richmond's violent crime rate is 336.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3179.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Richmond are operated by Richmond City Public Schools.
The district has 26 elementary, 7 middle, and 10 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 44.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Richmond, VA has a population of 227,171, a median household income of $59,606, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Richmond averages 47.8°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.1 inches
with about 8.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Richmond, VA is covered by 12 ZIP codes: 23225, 23224, 23234, 23220, 23222, 23221, 23226, 23219, 23230, 23173, 23284, 23298.
The population of Richmond, Virginia is 227,171 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Richmond: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $308,300, median household income $59,606, crime index 114 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Richmond side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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