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Richmond named one of America’s Best Places to Live for 2nd year in a row
May 13, 2025
Greater Richmond continues to earn its reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. For the second year in a row, Richmond has secured a spot on Livability.com’s list of Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., a recognition that highlights the city’s livability, affordability and overall quality of life.
This year, Richmond climbed 28 spots higher than its 2024 overall ranking. In 2025, Richmond earned high marks across multiple quality-of-life categories: amenities, economy and environment. In a time where rising costs are a major concern for Americans and work-life balance emerges as a priority for the workforce, Greater Richmond has proven to be a place where residents can thrive and experience a low cost of living- nearly 6 percent below the national average, without sacrificing opportunity or lifestyle.
Richmond received national attention from Livability.com last year, earning a spot on the 2024 Best Places to Live list, making this a back-to-back recognition. From 2024 to 2025, Richmond’s overall ranking improved by 28 spots compared to the other 100 cities recognized. This significant increase resulted from improvements in the following categories: Amenities, Education, Health, Economy, Environment as well as Housing & Cost of Living.
Livability’s annual list focuses specifically on small to mid-sized cities across the U.S. and stands out for its data-driven approach that prioritizes affordability. The 2025 list is particularly relevant, considering the growing trend of people relocating from large, higher cost cities to smaller communities that provide more space, lower costs, and flexibility. From its thriving arts and food scene, abundant parks and green spaces, to vibrant neighborhoods and a diverse local economy, Richmond offers a dynamic lifestyle that features city-style perks paired with natural outdoor amenities. The chart below displays the breakdown of Richmond’s Livability.com score improvement (out of 100) from 2024-2025, with the vertical axis indicating rank relative to competing metros in the study.
- Topics:
- Quality of Life
- Rankings
