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New York Times names Richmond a top small-city career hub
April 6, 2026
New York Times list named Richmond as one of the nation’s top 20 small cities where people can have a “big” career.
The list named 20 small cities under 250,000 residents as the best across 19 metrics in four categories: salary and income, job market strength, quality of life and amenities, and industry presence.
The Times used a market study from CoworkingCafe, which ranked Richmond as the 18th-best small city – out of 298 – where people can “find a high quality of life without sacrificing career development or wage growth.”
Richmond stood out for having healthy wage growth – increasing about 46% from 2019 to 2024. Richmond also ranked well for competitive housing costs and strong workforce activity with 70.4% civilian labor force participation.
The Richmond metro area’s median home sale price rose about $115,000 between the start of the pandemic and December 2025, according to Zillow data. Those elevated prices are still below prices in many larger East Coast metros, preserving relative affordability.
Business density is also high, with 5,053 establishments per 100,000 residents, showing a diverse and active local economy. That diversity, along with Richmond’s mix of industries, was cited as continuing economic resilience.
Compared to other cities that might rely heavily on a dominant industry, Richmond’s varied employer base – spanning across biotechnology, manufacturing, finance, health care and other sectors – helps cushion the region against sector-specific downturns.
Access to health care was also rated well despite the “modest” median income of $63,390.
The CoworkingCafe study also emphasizes that Richmond’s performance reflects a broader trend among smaller cities, where rising wages, manageable costs and strong labor participation are increasingly combining to create competitive environments for career growth outside major metropolitan hubs.
Virginia had two cities in the top 20, with Alexandria ranking 19th.
Alexandria posted the second-highest labor force participation at 80%, with the median income reaching $124,593. Wage growth in the city off the Potomac was strong, at a 36% increase between 2019 and 2024, with low unemployment.
Its proximity to Washington, D.C., was noted as a strength, along with high business density and transit access.
- Topics:
- Rankings
- Talent + workforce
