Richmond

Best Richmond suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·20 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Short Pump, VA
Short Pump$569k median · 21.8 min commute
Employment A−Amenities A−Commute B+
74
Score
overall 73 B
2
A house and gas station in Lakeside, Virginia.
Lakeside$288k median · 20.0 min commute
Employment C+Amenities C+Commute B+
70
Score
overall 67 C+
3
A downtown view of Richmond, VA
Richmond$353k median · 21.7 min commute
Employment DAmenities ACommute B+
69
Score
overall 62 C
4
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
Employment CAmenities B−Commute B+
67
Score
overall 67 C+
5
The ruins of the Grove Shaft from the Midlothian coal mines; Mid-Lothian Mines Park, Midlothian, Virginia.
Midlothian$409k median · 24.4 min commute
Employment B−Amenities BCommute C+
65
Score
overall 67 C+
6
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
Employment B−Amenities B−Commute C+
64
Score
overall 69 B−
7
A view of the Colonial Heights Boulevard, with the courthouse on the right
Colonial Heights$247k median · 25.5 min commute
Employment C−Amenities B−Commute D+
63
Score
overall 62 C
8
area Richmond-Peterburg
Manchester$317k median · 21.9 min commute
Employment C−Amenities C+Commute B
62
Score
overall 65 C+
9
One of the entrances to the Brandermill, Virginia suburb.
Brandermill$376k median · 25.5 min commute
Employment C+Amenities BCommute C
62
Score
overall 65 C+
10
Laurel Industrial School Historic District
Laurel$284k median · 24.0 min commute
Employment C−Amenities B−Commute C+
62
Score
overall 61 C
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other Richmond lists
Best Richmond suburbs for familiesMost affordable Richmond suburbsBest Richmond suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown RichmondMost walkable Richmond suburbsHow we score Richmond suburbs →

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