Real Estate Investing in Richmond, Virginia (23234)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Chesterfield County • Population: 46,284 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23234 (Richmond, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Richmond, VA (23234)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $314,828
Avg Monthly Rent $1,572
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,669
% Renters 41.7%

Market Analysis: 23234 Richmond

The 23234 ZIP in Richmond, VA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $315K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $315K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 23234 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 23234 among VA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 23234 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Richmond's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 23234. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Richmond:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,572/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Richmond, VA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
31 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Richmond, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 23234

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+14.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$83,740/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $191,428 $1,540 5.8% +14.2% $95,714
3BR $285,519 $1,950 4.9% +9.2% $95,173
4BR $350,818 $2,410 4.9% +8.0% $87,705
5BR $418,700 +7.7% $83,740

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$331K$285K$239K$193K$147K$101KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,752$1,608$1,463$1,319$1,174$1,030Sep 2020Aug 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23234 Compare?

Metric 23234 Richmond Richmond, VA Virginia
Home Value $314,828 $141,872 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 5.7% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,572 $1,732 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 23234? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 23234 (Richmond, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 23234 (Richmond, VA)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Richmond, VA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
29%
Days Pending
0/2
31 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $314,828
Monthly Rent $1,572
Price-to-Rent 16.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23234

Population: 46,284

💰 Median Household Income
$60,669
This area
$60,669
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.7%
This area
41.7%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 49.6%
White 25.0%
Other/Mixed 22.5%
Hispanic/Latino 20.3%
Asian 2.9%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.5%
This area
14.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 23234

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,064 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Broad Rock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

Summer Hill Preschool Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
A Very Good

Thomas C. Boushall Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
617 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,807 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Falling Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
796 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hopkins Road Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
753 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Falling Creek Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,388 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J.G. Hening Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
877 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
B Good

Meadowbrook High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,964 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,146 Off-Campus Students
D
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
374 students · 5.0 mi
D
Centura College-Richmond Main
31 students · 5.2 mi
C+
Virginia Commonwealth University
28,238 students · 6.7 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Midlothian
87 students · 7.0 mi
C
Virginia Union University
1,662 students · 7.6 mi
C
Brightpoint Community College
9,023 students · 8.1 mi
C
Union Presbyterian Seminary
173 students · 8.8 mi
D
Chester Career College
147 students · 8.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,146 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Richmond, VA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Richmond, VA. Rents at $1,572/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is rental property easy to operate in Richmond, VA?

The landlord environment in Richmond, VA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What approach is best for Richmond, VA real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Richmond, VA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Richmond, VA?

House hacking in Richmond, VA is a challenging. With home values around $315K and rents at $1,572/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is Richmond, VA a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Richmond, VA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $315K home prices against $1,572/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 23234 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 23234 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 23234 ranks in Richmond, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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