Many people move to Richmond, Virginia every year. They have very good reasons to do so. So, why are people moving to the capital of Virginia? The city has been named one of the top 50 best places to live in the U.S. and one of the best cities to retire.
This writer moved to Richmond, Virginia from Piscataway, New Jersey in the 1980s and has never looked back. After reading about all that Richmond has to offer, perhaps Richmond will be your home as well.
1. Affording cost of living
Virginia’s capital city has an affordable cost of living. The cost of living in Richmond is right in line with the U.S. average and is 6% lower than the state average. It is easy to find houses that will fit almost everybody's needs, and housing costs are budget-friendly.
2. A strong job market
Richmond is one of America's best cities for job seekers. Job opportunities are with some of the Fortune 500 companies, such as CarMax, Dominion Energy, and Markel. Richmond prides itself on having opportunities for people to become entrepreneurs. There are organizations to help people start their own businesses. The Greater Richmond area was once named the third-best city for business opportunities.
3. Enjoy all four seasons
If you lived in Richmond, you could enjoy all four seasons of the year. Fall and spring are pleasant with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Summers have temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Richmond doesn't get much snow in the winter months. The city gets an average of about 11 inches a year.
4. Rich in history
Richmond has several historical landmarks, such as St. John's Church where Founding Father Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech at the start of the revolution. There are lots of exhibits to see at the American Civil War Museum. The Edgar Allen Poe Museum is located in Richmond where the famous author grew up.
5. Entertainment galore
Richmond has a variety of events and festivals going on throughout the year. There are places to dance the night away as well as to listen to live music at the Richmond Jazz Festival.
6. Family fun
There’s no shortage of things to do as a family in Richmond. Children will enjoy the Metro Richmond Zoo and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Sports fans will love the NASCAR race at Richmond Raceway.
7. Museums and art
One of the easiest ways to understand Richmond's unique personality is to experience its places of art. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has some of the finest collections of art in the world. There is much to see at the Science Museum of Virginia. The Library of Virginia, the Valentine Richmond History Center, the Virginia Holocaust Museum, and the Old Dominion Railway Museum are all located in Richmond.
8. Foods for every palate
This Virginia city is a growing foodie destination. The city is full of restaurants with food to satisfy every taste from casual eating to fine dining.
9. Places to drink in Richmond
If you want to fully experience all of Richmond’s 30 breweries, take a trip down the Richmond Beer Trail. You will see why Richmond is one of America’s top beer destinations. You can also sample varieties of apple ciders at Blue Bee Cider.
10. Shopping
There is no shortage of places to shop. You could "shop till you drop." Richmond is known for its shopping malls. There is one in or close to any neighborhood you choose to live in.
11. Hospitals
Richmond has several hospitals. Two of them are on Newsweek's list of 'World's Best Hospitals": VCU Medical Center and Henrico Doctors' Hospital.
12. Schools
The city of Richmond has 28 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and eight high schools. Richmond's public school district also runs one of Virginia's four public charter schools. Richmond also has 36 private schools.
The Richmond area has many major institutions of higher education and several community colleges There are also technical and vocational colleges in Richmond as well as several popular seminaries where people from all over the world go to study.
13. Churches
Richmond has many churches throughout the city. More than likely, there are denominational churches that are the same as what people have been accustomed to attending.
Now, don't you want to live in Richmond, Virginia?
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