Every post on the blog, newest topics first within each section: areas, costs, and schools and settling in.
Choosing a Richmond Neighborhood: The City’s Own Maps and Rules Every Newcomer Should Check
Before you sign a lease or make an offer in Richmond, check five things the city publishes for free: the parcel and zoning maps, whether the street is in an Old and Historic District, what is planned nearby, the school zone and the neighborhood’s civic group.
The Cost of Living in Richmond, VA: Housing, Taxes, Utilities and Everyday Spending
A budget-building guide for a move to Richmond using official figures: Census rents and owner costs, the city’s real estate and car tax rates, the 6 percent sales tax and 1 percent grocery rate, the meals tax and a sample city water bill.
Enrolling Your Child in Richmond Public Schools: Zone Schools, Open Enrollment and Key 2026-27 Dates
How to register a new student with Richmond Public Schools: the online Enroll RPS account, finding your zone school, kindergarten and preschool age rules, and the Open Enrollment and selective school application windows for 2027-28.
Richmond City, Henrico or Chesterfield? How the Three Localities Compare for People Moving In
In Virginia a city is not part of a county, so living in Richmond, Henrico or Chesterfield means a different government, school division and tax bill. Census data on housing, income and commutes, plus what the three share.
Richmond Real Estate and Car Taxes: Rates, Due Dates, Appeals and the Shrinking Car Tax Relief
How the City of Richmond taxes homes and vehicles: the $1.20 real estate rate and its January and June due dates, how to appeal an assessment, the $3.70 vehicle rate due June 5, the 60-day rule for new residents and why car tax relief fell from 58 percent to 22 percent.
Comparing Schools in the Richmond Area: How to Read Virginia’s School Quality Profiles
Virginia’s School Quality Profiles rate every public school with an accreditation status, a performance level and a framework score. What those labels mean for a family choosing between Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield, with the counts for each division and the checks that matter more than a single number.
Getting Around Richmond: Zero-Fare Buses, the Pulse, LINK Microtransit and the Airport
Every GRTC bus in the Richmond region is free to ride. How the Pulse bus rapid transit line, local routes, LINK on-demand vans and the airport connections work, and what to know before you rely on them.
Virginia Income and Sales Tax for New Residents: Part-Year Returns, Rates and Deductions
Moving to Virginia mid-year means a part-year return. How Virginia defines residents, the 2 to 5.75 percent rate schedule, the standard deduction for 2025 through 2028, estimated payments, and how sales tax works in Richmond.
New to Virginia: Driver’s License in 60 Days, Car Title and Registration in 30
The Virginia DMV deadlines and steps for people moving to Richmond: switching your out-of-state license, choosing REAL ID, titling and registering your car, the annual safety inspection and why emissions testing does not apply here.
Richmond Weather and Flood Risk: Hot Summers, Light Snow and a River That Rises
What Richmond’s climate is really like month by month, based on NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals, and how to judge flood risk from the James River, with the National Weather Service’s flood stages and historic crests.
Setting Up Utilities in Richmond: City Water, Sewer, Gas and Stormwater Explained
In the City of Richmond, water, wastewater, natural gas and stormwater all come from the city’s Department of Public Utilities. How each is billed, the current residential rates with the city’s own sample bill, the 7 percent utility tax and what to do if you smell gas.
Qualifying for In-State Tuition in Virginia After a Move: The One-Year Domicile Rule
Families moving to Richmond with a teenager often ask when the in-state tuition rate applies at Virginia’s public colleges. What the Code of Virginia requires: one year of domicile, clear and convincing evidence, and the factors colleges weigh, with a timeline for planning a move.