Great for Families - 6/26/2006

I have lived in Richmond my entire life. It's a great place to raise a family, but not so great for singles. There's alot to do between the beach and mountains. Wine country is beautiful! There are some nice areas in the suburbs-the West End and Midlothian are filled with families.

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Crime in the city - 6/25/2006

I live in Henrico County and the crime here is fairly limited to domestic or stupid kid stuff, although a few nasty things have happened in the 19 years I have been here. The real crime occurs in the downtown and drug areas in the city - I don't frequent those areas so it seems very isolated to me. A few years ago I attended the Medical College Campus at night and found walking around the area - near the Capitol - fairly safe.

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relocated from southern ca to richmond area in 200 - 6/24/2006

we moved to eastern goochland(western suburb of richmond) it has grown in a positive way in the last 4 years, quality of life is fantastic, realestate is still a lot of bang for the buck and the economy is strong and growing rapidly, we miss southern ca beach life but the lack of traffic booming economy and large home have made up for it. we are and have invested in land in the surrouding area and have done very well with no end in sight to land values increasing( due to the counties putting the brakes on developement) i would recommend the counties of henrico, hanover or goochland as good places to live and work the city of richmond i can do without..southern ca transplant 6/06

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It has it all - 6/11/2006

Richmond has much to offer to all ages. It has a good highway system making commuting easy. It has all four seasons without extreme highs or lows. The land is rolling with many waterways. The city is very alive and the surronding smaller communties are within an easy commute.

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RVA - 6/7/2006

This place is going down hill. The cost of living is going up and as hard as I have tryed, I cant seem to find a better paying job in my field of employment.

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So much potential, people resistant to change - 5/25/2006

This city has the perfect layout to implement a mass transportation system, but the citizens- especially those in the west end- would never give up their suv's and willingly use their tax money for such a system. Also, many bicyclists ride everywhere, but the said motorists are infamous for running bikers off the road.

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Allergies - 5/24/2006

Since moving to Richmond, allergies have gotten so bad we're considering moving again.

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QOL - Richmond - 5/21/2006

Richmond is a great city to live in - you can be in the city and back in the country in about 20 minutes.

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The good and the bad - 4/24/2006

Excellent location to DC, the Ocean and the Mountains. The City has plenty to offer in the way of music, the arts and outdoor activities. In my opinion the bad - very conservative, they are slow to make any changes!

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From Ruth, Re:Richmond, VA - 4/20/2006

Hello. For the person who got back to me on Richmond, Sorry but I am in Buffalo, NY not Portland. Thanks for the info. What do you mean when you say Henrico spends a LOT of money on schools? What would be downfalls to living outside of Richmond and what would be the best reasons too relocate there? I am looking for cost of living to be lower, for instance my property taxes are almost $5,000 per year, our sales tax is 8.75%, and well it snow's too much and our climate stinks. My husband will be transferring to a Tyson Plant in Glen Allen, where in that area would be the best county and/or town to move for good schools and other good things? Thanks to anyone who provides info. on the above. You can email me at twohappypeeps@adelphia.net

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Ah, Richmond - 4/20/2006

I have lived in Richmond for a long time- That is, since my parents relocated from Roselle Park, NJ in 1990. Since I have grown up here, I would have to say that depending on the county, the school system is good on funding, but they are no different from any other school system when it comes to violence. The high school I went to in Chesterfield automatically locks all the doors from the outside, so 1) you cannot skip class and come back, and 2) so if you are 2 seconds tardy you have detention (because the classroom doors lock from the outsdie too).The schools are overcrowded, and they keep building schools... but only in the areas that are higher income. The city of Richmond has been a ghost town, until VCU and other outside entities started pumping money into Richmond. The city government could have cared less. Doug Wilder (former governer) is now the Mayor and I think he is trying to turn crime around, but that will take forever. This state is a Commonwealth State, so it acts like its own little country. All the old timers in the local governments are only concerned with politics, which is why the city had gotten to the low that it had. As a result of all of these drastic changes, housing has doubled in the past 4 years! And cost of living follows right behind. Unfortunately, rate of pay has not changed. For example, my first job right out of high school was at a credit card call center (its probably in your wallet) and they started me at 21,900 per year in 1999. They just put out a billboard because they are hiring again (I have since found another job), and they are starting at THE SAME SALARY!!! Let me tell you, I work for a company and make $27,000 per year and I cannot afford a house. And there are not a ton of jobs either. If you look outside of Richmond and to its surroundings, you will the best reasons to be here. The Appalachian mountains are about 2 hours west, the beach is 2 hours east, and DC (the only real city in your proximity) is 2 hours north. You can also enjoy Charlottesville which is 45 miles west at the foothills of the mountains. I personally am looking to make a change before I settle down, I am 26 and I am not pleased with what Richmond has to offer me. I want more culture, to be able to work 1 job and afford a house, and to not live in a place that is haunted by being the ex- capital of the Confederacy... it still feels like it is.

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all year fun - 4/18/2006

Location location right between the beaches and the mountains for year round fun!!

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Richmond-for Ruth - 4/15/2006

Hi Ruth! I wonder if you are the Ruth who posted on Portland as well.If so, it is ironic-I am from Richmond, and I interviewed in Portland yesterday-considering moving there..so, I'd welcome any other info on Portland. Henrico county spends A LOT of money on schools. Downtown Richmond is in transition-it is an armpit.Not a place to be after dark. Unlike Portland-you do NOT want to use public transportation. Away from the center of downtown, you would probably like Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom--there are old brick tobacco warehouses converted into great shops, eateries, and lofts. Brown's Island and the Iron Works are nice. A place to look into for schools would be the Short Pump/West End area. The homes are a little more expensive, but worth it in terms of quality of life, and school. There is plenty of shopping, entertainment in close proximity there, and the schools are excellent.

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It is ...what it is . - 4/13/2006

For anyone wanting to argue about crime in Richmond? Just state the facts. Richmond is CURRENTLY rated the 5th worst city for crime ...... now get this ......in the ENTIRE COUNTRY!!! Thats the whole USA folks!! It is what it is. Pick up a local paper, read it on line, watch it on the news or whatever way you want to experience it, but facts are facts. Is it any worse than other medium sized cities? (Richmond is small compared to Boston or NY or even Tampa) Well duh!!! Of course the crimes worse here. You don't get rated the 5th highest crime rated city by accident!!! Its earned. Murder by murder. Rape by rape. Violent crime by violent crime.

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VA Relocating ?'s - 4/13/2006

Relocating to VA, possibly Henrico County area. Any feedback would help. I am looking for a nice neighborhood with good schools. Thanks!!

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Great city for cost of living and culture. Air qua - 4/10/2006

High humidity and constant pollen and mold issues in my area.

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Leaving after living here my entire life - 4/9/2006

It is a pretty city, crime is not as bad as it seems since it is limited to certain areas that if you don't live in them, no one seems to care. It is still fighting the civil war - for example a big stink when a small statue of Lincoln was put up on a Federal Civil War site. Folks are getting ruder; drivers are awful, there is no mass transit - sprawl is a problem with no plans to control it. The state is more and more like Alabama each year. The summers are awful - hot, humid, winters boring since there is usually no snow. City government is a joke. BTW, VA is so conservative, its political make up still goes to Colonial VA. Cities are totally independent of the counties. It gets no support from the neighboring counties which makes the divide between "them and us", Black and White bad. I am moving to the Rockies. If you are liberal or progressive, Richmond City has some nice areas to live in, but the area and the Commonwealth (state) as a whole is not the place to live.

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Midlothian/Chesterfield County - 4/6/2006

Political city, with high crime. Especially, Chesterfield county. The public schools are horrific with great test scores, but they don't tell you about the overcrowding. Or, how unwelcoming the schools are to parents. You are not even allowed to walk your kindergarteners into school the first day. The principals are lousy, and have huge ego/power trips. The school board is a joke, and we moved due to the schools in Chesterfield County

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I LIVED IN RICHMOND FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAD TO GET TH - 4/4/2006

RICHMOND SEEMED SO DARK AND DISMAL WHEN I WAS THERE, IT WAS RATHER DEPRESSING. ON THE UP SIDE, THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON FOR THE KIDS, BUT THE UPKEEP OF THE CITY SEEMED MINIMAL. THE STREETS ARE RAGGED, FULL OF POT HOLES - IT KNOXKED OUR CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT! THE BUILDINGS ARE DINGY AND OLD LOOKING, LIKE THEY DON'T BELEIVE IN UPKEEP.

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Relocating - 3/31/2006

I am looking to relocate from New York City to Richmond Va. Can I find out how is the cost of living out there? What is a comfortable salary for a Single mother with 1 child.

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