Richmond, KY
Census place 2165226 · pop 37,111
Site of the 1862 Battle of Richmond, one of the most lopsided Confederate victories of the Civil War, and home to Eastern Kentucky University.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
38.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$50,870 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
19.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1973 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
218 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
34.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.80% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+5.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$214,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
68/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,169/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Richmond: Air, Obesity, Mental, Inactive, Smoking, Uninsured, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Richmond, KY a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Richmond scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 15 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is homeownership. Kentucky overall ranks #22 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Richmond, KY?
- Richmond reports 218 violent crimes per 100k and 1973 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Richmond, KY expensive to live in?
- Richmond has a median home value of $214,900 and typical rent around $1,169/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Richmond, KY?
- Its weakest measured area is homeownership (38.3%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Richmond, KY best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,169/mo) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Site of the 1862 Battle of Richmond, one of the most lopsided Confederate victories of the Civil War, and home to Eastern Kentucky University.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.