I have lived in and around Metro Richmond(West End, Brandermill, Chesterfield, Tri-Cities) and in Tempe(ASU) for a short while.....I did not get to experience all the things when living in Tempe....but the main difference that I can remember is the difference in weather........Tempe was hot and dry....Midlothian is a lot cooler and very humid and snow!.......I am currently looking to move full time to my beach cottage in the OBX(Outer Banks, NC).......I really loved the climate in Tempe.....but way too far from any beach......and I am NOT a lake person!!!! The only thing that I do NOT live or tolerate is all the NORTHERNS who are worthless.......totally disrespectful.......and rude a chit!!! The smaller outlying areas around Central Phoenix.......are very niche......just very small. In Virginia, you are either in a big town, small town or in the country........After living at both places.....I'll take a beach any day!!! Of course.....minus the northern vacationers.....
Cheetah | Kill Devil Hills, NC | Report Abuse

Richmond is as safe as most other cities. In Virginia cities are not part of the surrounding area, so you pretty much are looking at stats for the city center only. The actual population is much, much more than 225,000 people included in stats and crime is much lower outside of city center (where it isn't all that bad)
Dennis | Short Pump, VA | Report Abuse