The Town FilesRichmond, Virginia
City in Richmond city · population 226,610 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $353,000
- Household income
- $64,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 34.7
Richmond is a city of 226,610 people in Richmond city, Virginia. The median home is worth $353,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Virginia towns, hipper than 97% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 97% of Virginia towns.
How Richmond ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Richmond is worth $353,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $64,587, which is more affordable than 9% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,372 a month. 43.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richmond | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $353,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,372 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $64,587 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Richmond
| People | Richmond | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Richmond
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richmond since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 17, 2018 about 5.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 5, 2004.
Severe weather in Richmond city since 1996
Richmond city has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Richmond city
Richmond city had 165,947 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,392 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Richmond itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Richmond
110 public schools with 56,048 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Randolph Tucker High | 9-12 | 2,032 | 18.8 |
| Douglas S. Freeman High | 9-12 | 1,887 | 17.3 |
| Mills E. Godwin High | 9-12 | 1,740 | 17.4 |
| Hermitage High | 9-12 | 1,720 | 17.6 |
| Monacan High | 9-12 | 1,643 | 15.5 |
| Huguenot High | 9-12 | 1,507 | 16.0 |
| Varina High | 9-12 | 1,411 | 13.8 |
| Henrico High | 9-12 | 1,310 | 12.7 |
| Richmond High School for the Arts | 9-12 | 1,292 | 13.7 |
| River City Middle | 6-8 | 1,177 | 22.6 |
| George H. Moody Middle | 6-8 | 1,102 | 17.0 |
| Tuckahoe Middle | 6-8 | 1,057 | 16.5 |
Towns near Richmond
- Manchester, VA4.7 mi · 12,129 people · home $317,000
- Bon Air, VA5.3 mi · 18,022 people · home $365,200
- Montrose, VA5.6 mi · 7,909 people · home $194,100
- Lakeside, VA5.6 mi · 12,203 people · home $288,200
- East Highland Park, VA5.8 mi · 15,131 people · home $229,200
- Dumbarton, VA5.8 mi · 8,506 people · home $291,300
- Bensley, VA6.0 mi · 5,971 people · home $218,500
- Meadowbrook, VA7.0 mi · 20,898 people · home $298,500
Richmond questions
Is Richmond, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richmond scores better for retirees than 14% of Virginia towns and quieter than 13%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Richmond?
The median owner-occupied home in Richmond is valued at $353,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,587, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,372 a month.
What is the weather like in Richmond?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Richmond get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richmond since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 17, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)