City Comparison

Chesterfield vs Richmond: How they compare

Chesterfield County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the Richmond metro, offering new construction, public schools, and affordable homes south of the James River. Richmond is Virginia's capital and a city experiencing a major renaissance. Both are strong options, but the details matter. Here is how they compare across price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and safety.

Market Overview

Chesterfield's median sold price is $403K with homes averaging 37 days on market; Richmond is at $389K and 30 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Jul 2026). Chesterfield is pricier ($403K median vs $389K), a difference of about $14K. Richmond moves faster, with homes averaging 30 days on market compared to 37 in Chesterfield. Richmond offers a lower entry point at $125K–$1.5M.

Chesterfield

VA

Richmond

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Jul 2026

$403K

$389K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Jul 2026

37 days

30 days

Price Range

$150K–$900K

$125K–$1.5M

Notable Neighborhoods

Midlothian, Brandermill, Woodlake, Moseley

The Fan, Carytown, Church Hill, Scott's Addition

Schools

Chesterfield has a 79% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Chesterfield include Cosby High School and Clover Hill High School; in Richmond, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and Open High School. See Chesterfield schools | See Richmond schools

Chesterfield

VA

Richmond

VA

Avg Pass Rate

79%

67%

Public schools

Cosby High School, Clover Hill High School, Midlothian High School

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, Open High School, Thomas Jefferson High School

Pass Rate

79%
67%

Commute

Richmond is closer to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~20 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Chesterfield (I-95, I-295, Rt 1), Richmond (I-95, I-64, I-195).

Chesterfield

VA

Richmond

VA

Drive to Downtown

~20 min

~10 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-95, I-295, Rt 1, Rt 10, Rt 360

I-95, I-64, I-195, Rt 1, Rt 301

Commuter Rail

None

None

VA

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Related Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chesterfield or Richmond more affordable?

Richmond is more affordable with a median sold price of $389K, compared to $403K in Chesterfield (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Jul 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Chesterfield prices range from $150K–$900K. Richmond prices range from $125K–$1.5M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Chesterfield and Richmond?

Chesterfield public schools have a 79% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Chesterfield include Cosby High School and Clover Hill High School; in Richmond, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and Open High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Chesterfield or Richmond?

Richmond has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~20 minutes. Chesterfield has no direct Metro access. Richmond has no direct Metro access.

How do Chesterfield and Richmond compare?

Chesterfield County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the Richmond metro, offering new construction, public schools, and affordable homes south of the James River. Richmond is Virginia's capital and a city experiencing a major renaissance. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover can connect you with a verified agent in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Jul 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated August 2026.

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Chesterfield vs Richmond: $403K vs $389K (2026) | smover