Richmond is a great, if underrated, east coast city. We moved from DC 4 years ago and have zero regrets. We live in Colonial Place, which is a neighborhood in the "Near West End" but still walking distance to a lot of great attractions. We walked to Carytown for brunch today. Happy to answer questions.

Anonymous wrote:Not a chance. Richmond is the seat of power in VA and while Northern VA is liberal, the rest of the state is not. Like most areas, some schools are good and some are not, but it is all about the cohort (your neighbors and friends and your kids neighbors and friends). Too many not wearing masks right now, too many Trump supporters, and none of the things that make this area great.

You are misinformed.

Virginia did not turn blue just based on NoVa. Richmond and its suburbs are liberal, as are the areas near colleges like Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. The Virginia Beach area is more mixed politically than you might assume.

The public schools in the city of Richmond aren't great, but the suburban schools are just as good as Arlington, Loudoun or Montgomery. As PP noted, Richmond has a thriving arts and restaurant scene with VCU playing a role in this.

Museum district is beautiful and you’ll have cool neighbors, but probably not a lot of other kids. Check out Bellevue and Ginter Park on the North side, and Westover Hills/Stratford Hills/Forest Hill on the Southside for a more laid back vibe. Public schools are much iffier in those spots, though. You get “better” publics west of the city, but the near West end has a lot of old Richmond snobby types and the far West end has the burbs as far as the eye can see.

Good luck getting the job!

OP here, thanks for all these diverse opinions. We have moved around a lot in our time and are looking for a place that the kids will be good through high school.


One thing that has always stood out is that we've found/gravitated toward neighborhoods with nice, fun, cool people who do interesting things and are open minded and not too competitive with the whole parenting thing--I find that to be a turn off in D.C. We do our best with our kids and try to expose them to a lot but I dont think they are not as programmed or achievement oriented as their peers. I also want them to go to school with nice kids--not stuck up, cliquey rich kids--so that's important.

Politics: we have lived in the South so I am accustomed to being in a blue bubble in a red state.In fact, DH used to lean republican/independent, years ago, so can speak that language, but even before Trump he was disillusioned with the party and now is probably even more of a liberal than I am, but we have friends with a diversity of viewpoints (although if anyone currently supports Trump they are very quiet about it).

We do love the ability to go hiking and drive to the beach within a few hours, but I would also want to be driving distnace to the Smithsonian and the National Gallery.

So to sum up: yes, most people would live there., Henrico generally well liked (but for some its bland suburbs and stuck up kids??).

What about living downtown, like near the museum district? The schools do not appear to be strong on a 'great schools' rating, but that's not always accurate. We have one child who will probably do better in a small private, or a really good IEP program in public.

Now I just have to get the job

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there. It's a nice place, but I definitely wouldn't advise someone who wasn't from there to move there.

Yes, it is more liberal than the strereotype IN PARTS (there was a growing gay community there even back in the 90s) but it's very cliquey and traditional. A LOT of people grow up in Richmond and stay there - like most of my graduating class (I went to one of the well known private schools there). I'm surprised by how many are still voting Trump and weren't thrilled about the statues coming down. These are high income, well educated folks.

I'd be careful making too many assumptions about Henrico schools. They are fine, but it's a GS problem. There are parts that are less diverse/higher income and they have good ratings....doesn't mean good schools necessarily.

This is very accurate - signed a a native Richmonder who was a 13 yr senior at St. C, my entire family still lives there, and about 90 percent of my graduating class moved back, lives in same neighborhoods in which they grew up, and are sending their kids to the same schools. My sister made the mistake thinking HCPS were great and sent her kids to Tuckahoe Elementary, which is in a very nice neighborhood. Had terrible experience. Sending her kids now to a small parochial school and loving it. Richmond has way more middle of the road and affordable privates than around here. And the top 3 there (the 2 St Cs and Collegiate) are less than $30,000 a year I believe and are phenomenal schools with amazing campuses.

It is very insular. If you aren’t from there, it may be hard to penetrate certain circles.

Native Richmonder here. People who go to those schools are so stuck up. A great deal also belong to CCV. They are NOT welcoming to outsiders.

If you have children, the neighborhoods near Short Pump are wonderful for families. Check out Wyndham, Twin Hickory, and Gray Oaks. I lived there for several years and loved it. Great schools, people from all over, and very nice housing options.

My parents moved to Chester and like it. Their neighborhood is pretty diverse. We have enjoyed visiting them. They are very liberal-my mom is involved with the LWCC group that has been profiled in many media outlets.

Anonymous wrote:No - their city landmark is a huge statue of a cigarette

That is on the side of 95 South way south of the city. It’s not a city landmark whatsoever. Nice try at a diss though.

No - their city landmark is a huge statue of a cigarette

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there. It's a nice place, but I definitely wouldn't advise someone who wasn't from there to move there.

Yes, it is more liberal than the strereotype IN PARTS (there was a growing gay community there even back in the 90s) but it's very cliquey and traditional. A LOT of people grow up in Richmond and stay there - like most of my graduating class (I went to one of the well known private schools there). I'm surprised by how many are still voting Trump and weren't thrilled about the statues coming down. These are high income, well educated folks.

I'd be careful making too many assumptions about Henrico schools. They are fine, but it's a GS problem. There are parts that are less diverse/higher income and they have good ratings....doesn't mean good schools necessarily.

This is very accurate - signed a a native Richmonder who was a 13 yr senior at St. C, my entire family still lives there, and about 90 percent of my graduating class moved back, lives in same neighborhoods in which they grew up, and are sending their kids to the same schools. My sister made the mistake thinking HCPS were great and sent her kids to Tuckahoe Elementary, which is in a very nice neighborhood. Had terrible experience. Sending her kids now to a small parochial school and loving it. Richmond has way more middle of the road and affordable privates than around here. And the top 3 there (the 2 St Cs and Collegiate) are less than $30,000 a year I believe and are phenomenal schools with amazing campuses.

It is very insular. If you aren’t from there, it may be hard to penetrate certain circles.

Pro for Chesterfield: public schools are actually pretty good

Cons for Chesterfield: flaggers and everything else

I’m born and raised in Richmond, from the real west end (not what they call it now, which is the far west end really).

I would totally move back. Great art and foodie scene. Close to the beach, mountains and DC. Lots of activities around the river. It is very diverse politically so you will have super liberal as well as super conservative.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there. It's a nice place, but I definitely wouldn't advise someone who wasn't from there to move there.

Yes, it is more liberal than the strereotype IN PARTS (there was a growing gay community there even back in the 90s) but it's very cliquey and traditional. A LOT of people grow up in Richmond and stay there - like most of my graduating class (I went to one of the well known private schools there). I'm surprised by how many are still voting Trump and weren't thrilled about the statues coming down. These are high income, well educated folks.

I'd be careful making too many assumptions about Henrico schools. They are fine, but it's a GS problem. There are parts that are less diverse/higher income and they have good ratings....doesn't mean good schools necessarily.

I'm in Henrico and at least 1/4 of the people in my neighborhood are former NoVA transplants, including myself, and also tons of people from NY (Westchester County); I had no problems making friends. If you went to private school in RVA, then you're at least a decade behind of the reality here. I have two kids in the Henrico schools (ES and MS) and the schools are exceptional - much more diverse than FFX (higher percentage of AA and South Asians) and yes, higher income (6.6% free or reduced lunch vs. 8.3% at McLean or 9.9% at Madison). I don't claim to know everyone's voting patterns, but I see more Biden/Harris/Spanberger signs than Trump. Henrico voted solidly Democrat, much more than Loudoun County, for example. Even Chesterfield, which is more conservative than Henrico, is weak red, but I don't see why would anyone move to Chesterfield. If you are single or willing to play the school lottery, move to Richmond City. If you are UMC/MC and need or want public schools, move to Henrico. If you want country and have $$$$, pick Charlottesville.
Not everything is great. The private schools in the area are horrid and the college admissions are laughable. My neighbor put her kids through private school and then public for high school. They needed heavy tutoring to catch up and be ready for (mediocre) colleges.


https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/virginia

If you have kids yes. If you don’t and don’t plan to, no.

I grew up there. It's a nice place, but I definitely wouldn't advise someone who wasn't from there to move there.

Yes, it is more liberal than the strereotype IN PARTS (there was a growing gay community there even back in the 90s) but it's very cliquey and traditional. A LOT of people grow up in Richmond and stay there - like most of my graduating class (I went to one of the well known private schools there). I'm surprised by how many are still voting Trump and weren't thrilled about the statues coming down. These are high income, well educated folks.

I'd be careful making too many assumptions about Henrico schools. They are fine, but it's a GS problem. There are parts that are less diverse/higher income and they have good ratings....doesn't mean good schools necessarily.

I spent a weekend there once, and I really liked it (I lived in NE at the time and now live in FL).

The downtown was neat, we took a canal boat ride, and there was an artsy-restaurant area we visited.

I was impressed.