Richmond

Best Richmond suburbs for families

Ranked on a families weighting: schools at 30%, amenities within two miles at 20%, and the four poll questions about children, safety and sidewalks at 20%. Cost still counts, at 15%. The full weighting is shown at the bottom, and it is not the same as the overall score.

Updated Sep 2026·20 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
View of the Shelton House near Totopotomoy Creek in Virginia. Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry was reportedly married in the parlor of this house. This h
Mechanicsville$351k median · 23.9 min commute
Schools B+Amenities B−Residents inactive
72
Family score
overall 69 B−
2
A view of the Colonial Heights Boulevard, with the courthouse on the right
Colonial Heights$247k median · 25.5 min commute
Schools BAmenities B−Residents inactive
70
Family score
overall 62 C
3
Short Pump, VA
Short Pump$569k median · 21.8 min commute
Schools C−Amenities A−Residents inactive
69
Family score
overall 73 B
4
area Richmond-Peterburg
Manchester$317k median · 21.9 min commute
Schools BAmenities C+Residents inactive
69
Family score
overall 65 C+
5
One of the entrances to the Brandermill, Virginia suburb.
Brandermill$376k median · 25.5 min commute
Schools C+Amenities BResidents inactive
68
Family score
overall 65 C+
6
A house and gas station in Lakeside, Virginia.
Lakeside$288k median · 20.0 min commute
Schools C+Amenities C+Residents inactive
68
Family score
overall 67 C+
7
Bon Air$365k median · 24.9 min commute
Schools B−Amenities C+Residents inactive
68
Family score
overall 66 C+
8
The ruins of the Grove Shaft from the Midlothian coal mines; Mid-Lothian Mines Park, Midlothian, Virginia.
Midlothian$409k median · 24.4 min commute
Schools C+Amenities BResidents inactive
67
Family score
overall 67 C+
9
A downtown view of Richmond, VA
Richmond$353k median · 21.7 min commute
Schools C−Amenities AResidents inactive
67
Family score
overall 62 C
10
Tuckahoe Creek, which forms part of the border between Henrico and Goochland Counties of the U.S. state of Virginia.
Tuckahoe$463k median · 21.1 min commute
Schools CAmenities B−Residents inactive
67
Family score
overall 67 C+
This list's weighting
Schools 30%Amenities 20%Resident poll (Q2, Q5, Q6, Q8) 20%Cost of living 15%Housing 10%Commute 5%

Poll components only count for places with eight or more resident responses; for the others the remaining weights re-normalise to 100%.

Other Richmond lists
Most affordable Richmond suburbsBest Richmond suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown RichmondMost walkable Richmond suburbsBest Richmond suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Richmond suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Mechanicsville (Robshenk · CC BY-SA 3.0); Colonial Heights (Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0); Short Pump (Ser_Amantio_di_Nicolao · CC BY-SA 3.0); Manchester (wikipedia inglesa · CC BY-SA 3.0); Brandermill (Packer1028 · CC0); Lakeside (Packer1028 · CC0); Midlothian (Morgan Riley · CC BY 3.0); Richmond (Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0); Tuckahoe (Philroc · CC BY-SA 4.0).