In Richmond city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Richmond city, 31.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 85% of U.S. counties.
What drives Richmond city's score
In Richmond city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 94.5. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 81.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Richmond city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Richmond city does better than most counties on two measures: adults 25 to 54 not working (17.0%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (14.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.5 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.7% · 2020 to 202491st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income31.0% · fiscal year 202797th percentile
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- 81.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector28.6% · August 202569th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people337.6 · 202593rd percentile
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- 76.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.8% · August 202570th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.9% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score46.5% · second quarter of 202670th percentile
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- 64.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.2% · 202481st percentile
- Children below the poverty line28.9% · 202490th percentile
- People with a disability14.2% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
- People without health insurance8.8% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,865 · 202458th percentile
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- 39.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202651st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.0% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Richmond city comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Richmond city, 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Richmond city
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Richmond city rose most sharply from its first year (7.5% in 1969) to 12.5% in 1974.
In Richmond city, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 17.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Richmond city, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 17.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Richmond city getting SNAP food aid rose most sharply from its first year (12.5% in 2009) to 14.0% in 2010.
The share of households in Richmond city getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 15.1%
Low on the chart: 12.5% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Richmond city, Virginia.
How Richmond city has changed
Richmond city's population had its largest drop, from 251,000 in 1969 to 234,090 in 1974.
Richmond city's population fell 7% from 1969 to 2024, with its low point on the chart in 2004
Low on the chart: 196,878 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Richmond city, Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Richmond city had its largest rise in the last span, from 147,619 in 2020 to 167,843 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Richmond city fell 12% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 147,619 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Richmond city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 23.0% | 2024 18.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,000 | 2024 $63,865 |
The table uses 3.7% for 2025; the score uses 4.1% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Richmond city's history
1737
Founded in 1737. Wikipedia
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 249,621. The 2020 Census counted 226,610, 91% of the peak. Census Bureau
2004
A flash flood in August 2004 did $20 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Richmond city, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Richmond city beside its neighbors
Richmond city scores higher than all two counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Richmond city ranks 2nd of the three; Chesterfield County is highest, at 17.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond city, VA | 85 | 18.2% | 17.0% |
| Henrico County, VA | 47 | 10.3% | 14.7% |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 34 | 7.1% | 17.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Richmond city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Richmond city's poverty rate was 18.2% in 2024, 24th highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Richmond city ranks 21st of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Richmond city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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NSC (NACA Counseling Subsidiary) - Richmond, VA
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Southside Community Development and Housing
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Richmond city · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Richmond city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.