Moving to Richmond, VA With Kids: A Local Mom’s Guide to Finding the Right Area

Moving to Richmond with kids sounds simple until you realize “Richmond” can mean the city, Henrico, Chesterfield, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Midlothian or approximately 47 other places someone swears are “only 15 minutes away.”

And technically, they may be 15 minutes away—at 10:42 a.m. on a Tuesday with no school buses, bridge traffic or child suddenly announcing they need a bathroom.

I’m a Richmond mom and Realtor, and one of the biggest questions I hear from families is:

“Where should we live in the Richmond area?”

The real answer depends less on finding the universally “best” neighborhood and more on choosing the area that fits your family’s actual routine. Your commute, childcare, budget, preferred home style and willingness to drive everywhere will matter much more than a generic online ranking.

Here’s what I would want another mom to know before moving to Richmond, Virginia with kids.

First, understand how the Richmond area is organized

The Richmond metro includes several separate localities, each with its own school system, taxes, services and general feel.

The three areas most families begin with are:

• Richmond City: Older homes, established neighborhoods, more walkability in certain areas and easy access to restaurants, museums and the James River.
• Henrico County: Includes areas such as Short Pump, Glen Allen, Lakeside and the Near West End. Housing ranges from older brick homes to large newer communities.
• Chesterfield County: Includes Midlothian, Bon Air, Moseley and many growing suburban communities. You will generally find more newer construction and larger lots as you move farther from the city.

This is important because two homes with “Richmond” mailing addresses may be in different counties, assigned to different schools and served by different local governments.

Always verify the actual locality rather than relying solely on the city written in the mailing address.

If you want city living with parks and personality

Start by exploring areas such as Forest Hill, Westover Hills, Woodland Heights, Byrd Park, Bellevue, Ginter Park, The Fan and the Museum District.

These neighborhoods often appeal to people who want mature trees, architecture with character, local coffee shops and relatively quick access to central Richmond.

Forest Hill and Westover Hills

These areas are especially popular with buyers who want to be close to outdoor recreation. Forest Hill Park has wooded trails, a lake, open green space and a playground, while several entrances to the James River Park System are nearby. The City of Richmond maintains information about its trails and recreational facilities through the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department.

The tradeoff is that many homes are older. A charming 1940s kitchen may be delightfully full of character until you attempt to open the dishwasher and refrigerator at the same time.

The Fan and Museum District

These neighborhoods offer some of Richmond’s strongest walkability, with restaurants, coffee shops, museums and parks woven into everyday life. You will find historic row houses, townhomes, condos and detached homes, depending on the block.

Buyers should consider street parking, smaller yards, stairs and the maintenance that may accompany an older property. If having a large playroom and a two-car garage is at the top of your list, this may require a bigger budget or some compromise.

Bellevue and Ginter Park

Richmond’s Northside offers tree-lined streets, locally owned businesses and a mix of bungalows, cottages and larger historic homes. Bryan Park, Pine Camp and nearby community amenities provide options for outdoor time without leaving the city.

As with every Richmond neighborhood, the experience can change from one street to the next. Tour at different times of day and test the routes you would use for work, daycare and errands.

If convenience is your highest priority

Short Pump and Glen Allen are usually among the first areas families research when moving to Richmond.

These parts of western Henrico offer extensive shopping, restaurants, medical offices, grocery stores, established neighborhoods and new construction. In other words, you can probably find whatever you need without leaving the general Short Pump bubble.

There are also plenty of parks. Short Pump Park includes spray fountains, a dog park and play equipment, while Deep Run Park has ponds, walking paths, playgrounds and open space. You can see current amenities through Henrico County Recreation and Parks.

Twin Hickory Park in Glen Allen has separate playgrounds for younger and older children, plus a seasonal spray park. Pouncey Tract Park also has an accessible playground and athletic facilities.

The major tradeoff is walkability. While certain communities connect to shopping or trails, most daily errands still require driving. Broad Street traffic can also turn “I’m quickly running to Target” into a more committed outing than anticipated.

If you want more space and newer construction

Midlothian, Moseley and other parts of Chesterfield County are worth exploring.

This side of the metro includes established neighborhoods, planned communities and significant new construction. Depending on location and budget, buyers may find larger yards, modern floor plans, community pools and homes designed with the elusive storage space children seem determined to fill immediately.

Chesterfield also maintains an extensive parks system with dozens of parks, athletic facilities and trails. The county reports more than 700 recreational programs each season through Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation.

The Park at River City Sportsplex is one of the area’s newer destinations, with play spaces designed for several age groups and an intergenerational area.

The tradeoff can be distance. “Midlothian” covers a broad area, and some neighborhoods are much closer to Richmond than others. Check your route during the hours you will actually drive it—not just the optimistic estimate displayed on a Sunday afternoon.

If you want an in-between option

Bon Air, Lakeside and the Near West End can offer a middle ground between city living and the farther-out suburbs.

Bon Air

Bon Air has older homes, mature trees and convenient access to both Richmond and Chesterfield. The housing stock varies widely, from smaller cottages to renovated homes and larger properties tucked into established neighborhoods.

Lakeside

Lakeside is in Henrico County but sits close to Richmond’s Northside. It has a mix of cottages, brick ranches and renovated homes, plus easy access to local businesses, Bryan Park and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Near West End

The Near West End includes several established neighborhoods near the city-county line. Buyers often explore this area when they want a relatively central location, traditional homes and easier access to both downtown Richmond and western Henrico.

These areas can be very street-specific, so this is where touring with someone who understands the local pockets becomes especially useful.

How to research Richmond-area schools

School questions are understandably a major part of many moves, but online ratings alone rarely tell the entire story.

School assignments can vary by exact address and boundaries can change. Before making a housing decision:

1. Confirm the assigned schools directly with the appropriate school division.
2. Review the school’s programs, transportation and current enrollment information.
3. Visit the school when possible.
4. Talk directly with administrators about the services most important to your child.
5. Review official data rather than relying on a single third-party score.

The Virginia School Quality Profiles provide information about achievement, attendance, staffing, school safety and college and career readiness. Henrico families can also enter a specific property address into the HCPS School Assignment Locator.

I recommend researching the exact property address during your home search instead of assuming every house within a neighborhood has the same assignment.

Childcare should be part of your home search—not an afterthought

If you will need daycare or preschool, start researching availability before choosing a neighborhood.

A house may look perfectly located until you realize daycare would add 35 minutes in the opposite direction every morning.

Virginia’s official Search for Child Care tool includes licensed and approved providers, ages served, operating hours, inspection reports and capacity information.

When comparing locations, map the full weekday triangle:

Home → childcare or school → work

Then add your grocery store, pediatrician and most-used family activities. That picture is often much more helpful than simply calculating the distance from a house to downtown Richmond.

What is there to do with kids in Richmond?

A lot—which is one reason I love raising a family here.

Depending on where you live, your regular rotation might include:

• Walking the trails or exploring the new nature play area at Belle Isle
• Visiting Maymont
• Playing at the Children’s Museum of Richmond
• Spending an afternoon at the Science Museum of Virginia
• Exploring the trails and nature center at Three Lakes Park
• Visiting Taylor Farm Park in Henrico
• Playing at Short Pump Park or Twin Hickory Park
• Walking through Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
• Visiting Forest Hill Park or Pony Pasture
• Finding a story time at a Richmond, Henrico or Chesterfield library
• Trying a local coffee shop that conveniently happens to have enough snacks to prevent a public collapse

The city and surrounding counties each offer plenty to do, but your location will influence which places become easy weekday outings and which ones become “maybe next weekend” destinations.

Five questions to answer before choosing an area

Before looking at houses, ask yourself:

1. How much driving can we realistically tolerate?

Some Richmond neighborhoods offer walkable errands and activities. Others offer more space but require a car for nearly everything. Neither is automatically better—it depends on your routine.

2. Do we want an older home or newer construction?

Older Richmond homes may offer charm, larger trees and established neighborhoods. Newer homes may provide more storage, open floor plans and fewer immediate projects.

3. Which matters more: yard size or location?

A larger yard may mean moving farther from central Richmond. A closer-in location may mean a smaller lot or less square footage.

4. Where will we spend most weekdays?

Think beyond weekend activities. School, childcare, work, appointments and groceries usually matter more to daily happiness than being 10 minutes closer to a restaurant you visit once a month.

5. Are we buying our “forever home” or our next-right home?

You do not have to solve every possible future need with one purchase. Sometimes the right house is simply the one that fits your family and finances well for the next several years.

My favorite way to test-drive a Richmond neighborhood

Before making an offer, spend a normal afternoon in the area.

Drive there during your expected commute. Visit the closest grocery store. Find the playground. Grab coffee. Drive from the neighborhood to daycare or work.

Notice the little things:

• Are there sidewalks?
• How busy are the roads?
• Is street parking realistic?
• How long does the school or daycare route take?
• Do you like the surrounding businesses?
• Would everyday errands feel easy?
• Can you picture yourself doing a random Tuesday here?

That tells you much more than a list titled “The Five Best Neighborhoods in Richmond.”

Need help figuring out where your family fits?

Moving to Richmond with kids does not have to begin with scrolling through hundreds of listings and hoping one magically explains the entire metro area.

I help Richmond families compare neighborhoods, understand their options and create a realistic plan—especially when they need to sell their current home and buy the next one at the same time.

You can also download my RVA Family Pack, which includes:

• The RVA 101 Guide
• The latest RVA Mom Guide
• Upcoming RVA Mom Walks
• My Buying and Selling at the Same Time Guide
• The “Does Your Home Still Fit Your Family?” checklist

It is basically the information I would send a friend who said, “Help. We need more space, but I don’t even know where to start.”

Email me HERE and ask for your free RVA Family Pack!

Or reach out for a relaxed planning call, and we can talk through your family’s location, timeline and next-home wishlist—no pressure and no need to have everything figured out first.

With questions, to get into the Mom Guide Community, or to work together, email me directly at brianna@bwalker-realty.com and visit my webpage and instagram!