What do you like about living in Richmond, VA?

[Anonymous]

Has anybody ever lived here with kids? How are the public/private schools? Which neighborhoods are kid-friendly and which aren't? Which are safe?

If you lived there as a parent, did you find it easy to make friends with other parents? I know it's a really young town, but I'm a young parent, so maybe it works out?

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Richmond so can answer some of these - also it's one of those towns that is big enough that plenty of people from childhood/high school end up going back there, so I'm a bit up on some of my friends' experiences raising kids there now.

Traffic is better than this area, obviously, so that's the first plus. Then again, it has nothing like the metro etc. I think job opps are pretty good - there are some big and midsized businesses/firms based there and a few colleges/universities, and then you have your general jobs you find in every mid size city - lawyers, nonprofits, a few museums, lots of clinics and hospitals, etc.

Schools are good in many areas - Henrico County is known to have pretty good schools. Some EXCELLENT privates there, I went to public school through elementary and then to private. Loved my private school - great experience. Not much diversity but that has changed with the times and it's different now. Still, given what my parents were paying for tuition in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I imagine the cost of the top privates are on par with the costs of DC area top privates. No big bargain there, but like this area you have less expensive options too. I'm not sure how Richmond City schools are - they weren't that great in the 1990s, and most of the middle to upper middle class would either live in the burbs for those schools, or send kids to private.

If by young town you mean the city proper, that makes sense. If you are interested in the burbs it is like anyplace and wouldn't call it young. You can buy a nice house for cheaper there for sure. It's not unlike a more miniature version of this area, honestly. However, I would say it is more manageable - since it's less traffic, less people, lower cost of living etc. The airport is one of the most expensive to fly in and out of in the country last I heard. People are pretty friendly and seem less rushed.

[Anonymous]

Henrico county has lots of Northern Virginia transplants and lots of activities for children. We lived in Wyndham and liked the school and surrounding area. The commute into the city is not bad at all if you are use to driving in the DC area. We met lots of people at the neighborhood pool.

[Anonymous]

beautiful parks in richmond. the art museum is also excellent.

[Anonymous]

going on vacation

[Anonymous]

Wiping my ass with the Confederate flag.