Richmond receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Richmond
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 44%
vs59 · Top 43%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
76 · Top 18%
vs75 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
83 · Top 13%
vs75 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 28%
vs83 · Bottom 32%
Access
87 · Top 44%
vs95 · Top 27%
Economic stability
81 · Top 18%
vs87 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | Richmond | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,787,235 | 1,341,248 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,330 | $86,679 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,050 | $47,682 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 558/sq mi | 307/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $340,900 | $353,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,478 | $1,447 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.4% | 67.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 41.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,224 | 8,722 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 6.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 13.0% | -10.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.7" | 45.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Richmond
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
71
Your Score
69
Area Score
Richmond
76
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area · Richmond, VA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology