City Comparison

Manassas vs Richmond: How they compare

Manassas is a charming independent city with a revitalized downtown, diverse dining, and proximity to the Civil War battlefield. 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

Manassas's median sold price is $548K with homes averaging 29 days on market; Richmond is at $390K and 31 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Manassas is pricier ($548K median vs $390K), a difference of about $158K. Manassas moves faster, with homes averaging 29 days on market compared to 31 in Richmond. Richmond offers a lower entry point at $125K–$1.5M.

Manassas

VA

Richmond

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$548K

$390K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

29 days

31 days

Price Range

$60K–$1.9M

$125K–$1.5M

Notable Neighborhoods

Old Town Manassas, Georgetown South, Signal Hill, Sudley

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

Schools

Manassas has a 72% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Manassas include Osbourn High School and Metz Middle School; in Richmond, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and Open High School. See Manassas schools | See Richmond schools

Manassas

VA

Richmond

VA

Avg Pass Rate

72%

67%

Public schools

Osbourn High School, Metz Middle School, Round 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 ~45 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Manassas (I-66, Rt 28, Rt 234), Richmond (I-95, I-64, I-195).

Manassas

VA

Richmond

VA

Drive to Downtown

~45 min

~10 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-66, Rt 28, Rt 234

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

Commuter Rail

VRE (Manassas line)

None

Walkability

Richmond is more walkable with a Walk Score of 50 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 38 in Manassas. Transit scores: Manassas (15) vs Richmond (28). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Old Town Manassas and The Fan score much higher than suburban areas.

Manassas

VA

Richmond

VA

Walk Score

38Car-Dependent
50Somewhat Walkable

Transit Score

15

28

Bike Score

35

52

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Manassas 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.

Manassas

VA

Richmond

VA

Reported Violent Crime

1.8/1K

5.8/1K

Reported Property Crime

16.2/1K

25.2/1K

VA

Search homes in Manassas

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

VA

Search homes in Richmond

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

Decided between Manassas and Richmond? See how buying a home works on smover.

Related Comparisons

See how other nearby cities stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manassas or Richmond more affordable?

Richmond is more affordable with a median sold price of $390K, compared to $548K in Manassas (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. Manassas prices range from $60K–$1.9M. Richmond prices range from $125K–$1.5M.

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

Manassas public schools have a 72% average SOL pass rate; Richmond has 67% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Manassas include Osbourn High School and Metz 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, Manassas or Richmond?

Richmond has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~45 minutes. Manassas has no direct Metro access. Richmond has no direct Metro access.

How do Manassas and Richmond compare?

Manassas is a charming independent city with a revitalized downtown, diverse dining, and proximity to the Civil War battlefield. 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.

Stay ahead of the market

Join buyers, sellers, and agents across Northern Virginia getting weekly market updates, new listings, and tips. Free, every Monday.

Trusted in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and 19 more cities

Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Take ownership of your move.

Search, save, choose your people, and organize the dates, documents, and updates that follow.