How Richmond compares

Richmond measured against counties like it across the country, and against the other counties in Virginia — health, money, jobs, housing, the jail, bridges, people, schools and county finances. Every figure is computed from public data and cited; “ahead” and “behind” are measured differences, not grades. For what other places have tried on each measure, see what has worked.

In short — beside 161 counties like it

“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Richmond's ($61,655). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.

Ahead of similar counties on 4 measures:

residents per mental health provider: 540 here, 1,109 for the typical similar county
bridges rated poor: 0.0% here, 6.3% for the typical similar county
households with severe housing problems: 7.1% here, 10.8% for the typical similar county
food insecurity: 10.3% here, 14.1% for the typical similar county

Behind similar counties on 2 measures:

residents per primary care doctor: 9,017 here, 2,175 for the typical similar county
children in poverty: 21.9% here, 17.3% for the typical similar county

About the same on 4: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, unemployment, households with broadband internet.

People and schools — beside the same similar counties

Measure	Richmond	Typical similar county
Population change, 2020–2024	3.3% 8,918 → 9,215	-0.0%
School spending per student (day-to-day costs)	$14,612	$14,524

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Census Annual Survey of School System Finances (school year 2023), current spending divided by enrollment across the districts based in the county.

How Richmond County compares — beside 161 counties like it

“Counties like it” means other counties outside metro areas with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $61,655 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Richmond County is furthest behind on residents per primary care doctor, children in poverty.

Measure	Richmond County	Typical similar county	Doing best among similar counties
Life expectancy about the same	76.4 years	75.6 years	Grand County, UT 80.3 years Antelope County, NE 79.8 years Brewster County, TX 79.7 years
Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same	9.6%	9.8%	Lexington city, VA 4.0% Pope County, MN 4.4% Monroe County, IA 4.8%
Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties	9,017	2,175	Wallowa County, OR 580 Johnson County, WY 663 Beaverhead County, MT 680
Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties	540	1,109	Johnson County, IL 115 Lexington city, VA 118 Harney County, OR 118
Children in poverty behind similar counties	21.9%	17.3%	Pope County, MN 8.8% Johnson County, WY 9.2% Cuming County, NE 10.0%
Food insecurity ahead of similar counties	10.3%	14.1%	Grant County, KS 9.2% Cumberland County, VA 9.3% Davis County, IA 9.4%
Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties	7.1%	10.8%	Hamilton County, IL 4.9% Doddridge County, WV 5.0% Tyler County, WV 5.4%
Unemployment about the same	3.1%	3.1%	Custer County, NE 1.7% Holt County, NE 1.8% Keith County, NE 1.8%
Households with broadband internet about the same	79.7%	83.1%	Grant County, KS 94.3% Yoakum County, TX 92.3% Box Butte County, NE 92.2%
Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties	0.0%	6.3%	Pershing County, NV 0.0% Van Buren County, TN 0.0% Moore County, TN 0.0%

“Behind” or “ahead” means more than 15% worse or better than the typical (median) similar county; small differences can be noise. Sources: County Health Rankings 2025 (health, money and internet), Vera Institute (jail, latest year from 2015 on), FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025, HUD (metro areas), Census 2024 population. What has worked elsewhere on each of these.

How Richmond County compares — against the other counties in Virginia

9,215 — people: 117th highest of 133 Virginia counties.
$14,612 — spending per student in its school districts: 75th highest of 126 Virginia counties.
76.4 years — life expectancy: 51st highest of 133 Virginia counties.
9.6% — share of adults under 65 without health insurance: 21st highest of 133 Virginia counties.
21.9% — child poverty: 39th highest of 133 Virginia counties.
79.7% — households with broadband internet: 97th highest of 133 Virginia counties.
$61,655 — median household income: 77th highest of 133 Virginia counties.
$1,187 a month — two-bedroom fair market rent: 74th highest of 133 Virginia counties.
0.0% — share of bridges rated poor: 105th highest of 117 Virginia counties.
$1,114 — federal grant dollars per resident: 17th highest of 132 Virginia counties.
$3.9 million — expected yearly losses from natural hazards: 113th highest of 133 Virginia counties.

“Highest” and “lowest” are just order, not grades: a high rank for poverty or hazard losses means more of it. Each figure's source is in its section below.

Related: By the numbers · The money trail · Audits · What has worked. Spot an error? Report it.