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Greater Richmond climbs Brookings metro rankings thanks to racial inclusion
April 10, 2026
Greater Richmond is gaining national attention for something that matters more than just regional economic growth, but who benefits from it. In the latest Metro Monitor from the Brookings Institution, the region saw one of its most significant jumps in racial inclusion rankings, signaling that economic opportunity is becoming more accessible across communities. This trend strengthens the region’s talent pipeline and long-term economic resilience, key factors for businesses evaluating new locations.
The 2026 report shows Richmond rising 21 spots in Racial Inclusion, alongside seven place gains in both Growth and Prosperity, while maintaining a top-five (#5) ranking in Geographic Inclusion. These results place the region among the strongest-performing large metros in balancing economic expansion with more equitable outcomes.
At the core of this progress is a measurable narrowing of disparities. Between 2014 and 2024, the employment rate gap between white residents and people of color declined by 5.9 percentage points — marking the largest improvement recorded in this period. At the same time, the poverty rate gap fell by 1.8 percentage points, continuing a recent trend of steady improvement after earlier setbacks in the decade. Negative values in employment and poverty rate gaps indicate a narrowing disparity between white residents and people of color in both employment and poverty rates.
Income inequality has been less consistent but shows significant improvement. After fluctuating over several years, the median earnings gap narrowed by $3,770 in the most recent period, the largest improvement across all measured years. This suggests increasing access to higher-paying jobs for people of color, even as wage trends remain uneven.
Richmond’s performance is not limited to racial inclusion alone. The region has consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally for Geographic Inclusion since 2023, driven by shrinking disparities between higher- and lower-income neighborhoods. Over the past decade, the employment gap between top and bottom neighborhoods fell by 4.9 percentage points, while the poverty gap declined by 5.4 percentage points, indicating that opportunity is becoming more evenly distributed across the region. Negative values indicate a narrowing gap between employment levels and poverty levels in the highest income neighborhoods and lowest income neighborhoods.
These trends reinforce Richmond’s broader economic positioning. As #23 of 55 “very large” metros (population over 1 million, the region climbed seven sports in overall rankings, demonstrating that it can deliver both competitive growth and expanding access to opportunity — a combination increasingly prioritized by businesses and talent alike.
The Metro Monitor’s methodology of tracking growth, prosperity and inclusion together over a 10-year period, offers a more complete view of regional performance than traditional economic indicators alone. Richmond’s 2026 results point to a region not only growing but doing so in a way that strengthens its long-term workforce, resilience and competitiveness.
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About The Author
Jenny Wharry, is the Research Manager for the Greater Richmond Partnership, where she leads data collection and analysis to support business attraction and economic development initiatives. Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in international business from the University of Florida, bringing a strong analytical foundation and practical research experience to her work.
