City Comparison

Herndon vs Richmond: How they compare

Herndon is a walkable town near the Dulles technology corridor. Richmond is Virginia's capital and a city experiencing a major renaissance. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Herndon's median sold price is $700K with homes averaging 27 days on market; Richmond is at $390K and 31 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Herndon is pricier ($700K median vs $390K), a difference of about $310K. Herndon moves faster, with homes averaging 27 days on market compared to 31 in Richmond. Richmond offers a lower entry point at $125K–$1.5M.

Herndon

VA

Richmond

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$700K

$390K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

27 days

31 days

Price Range

$175K–$2.2M

$125K–$1.5M

Notable Neighborhoods

Herndon Town Center, McNair Farms, Reflection Lake, West Ox Cluster

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

Schools

Herndon has a 80% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Herndon include Herndon High School and Rachel Carson Middle School; in Richmond, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and Open High School. See Herndon schools | See Richmond schools

Herndon

VA

Richmond

VA

Avg Pass Rate

80%

67%

Public schools

Herndon High School, Rachel Carson Middle School, Dranesville Elementary

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

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Richmond is closer to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~35 minutes. Herndon has 2 Metro stations, including Herndon on the Silver line. Major highway access: Herndon (Dulles Toll Road, Rt 7, Rt 28), Richmond (I-95, I-64, I-195).

Herndon

VA

Richmond

VA

Drive to Downtown

~35 min

~10 min

Metro Stations

2 Metro stations (nearest: Herndon)

No Metro access

Metro Lines

Silver

N/A

Major Highways

Dulles Toll Road, Rt 7, Rt 28

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

Commuter Rail

None

None

Walkability

Richmond is more walkable with a Walk Score of 50 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 40 in Herndon. Transit scores: Herndon (28) vs Richmond (28). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Herndon Town Center and The Fan score much higher than suburban areas.

Herndon

VA

Richmond

VA

Walk Score

40Car-Dependent
50Somewhat Walkable

Transit Score

28

28

Bike Score

45

52

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Herndon and Richmond. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Herndon

VA

Richmond

VA

Reported Violent Crime

0.9/1K

5.8/1K

Reported Property Crime

12.8/1K

25.2/1K

VA

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Related Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Herndon or Richmond more affordable?

Richmond is more affordable with a median sold price of $390K, compared to $700K in Herndon (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Herndon prices range from $175K–$2.2M. Richmond prices range from $125K–$1.5M.

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

Herndon public schools have a 80% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Herndon include Herndon High School and Rachel Carson Middle 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, Herndon or Richmond?

Richmond has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~35 minutes. Herndon has Metro access (Herndon). Richmond has no direct Metro access.

How do Herndon and Richmond compare?

Herndon is a walkable town near the Dulles technology corridor. 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 lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 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 September 2026.

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