Is Henrico County, VA a good place to live?

Yes. Henrico County is one of the easiest places in the Richmond region to recommend: it wraps around the city’s north, west and east sides, homes sell fast at a $405,000 median, and its real estate tax rate of $0.83 per $100 is lower than Chesterfield’s. The main trade-offs are traffic and higher prices in the West End around Short Pump, and a quieter suburban feel than the city.

Brave Search’s AI answer, captured Nov. 3, 2026 (Google’s AI Overview blocked our automated capture today), says: “Yes, Henrico County, Virginia is widely considered a good place to live.” It praises the county’s “strong public schools,” safety, parks and “family-friendly community,” and notes “traffic congestion in growing western areas like Short Pump, a suburban feel that may feel quiet to those seeking urban energy.” (The on-page answer cut off mid-sentence after that.)

I’m Daniel Keeton, Broker and Founder of Keeton & Co. Our headquarters is in Glen Allen, in western Henrico, so I’ll admit some home-county bias. Here are the numbers.

What are the pros and cons of living in Henrico County?

Pros	Cons
Close to downtown Richmond, I-64, I-95 and I-295	West End traffic around Short Pump and Broad Street
Lower tax rate than Chesterfield: $0.83 vs. $0.89 per $100	West End homes cost well above the county median
Wide range of homes, from older brick ranches to new townhomes	Mostly car-dependent outside a few pockets
Big retail and dining hubs: Short Pump, Innsbrook, Willow Lawn	Feels suburban, not urban
Fast resale: median 10 days on market	Popular areas see competition in spring

What’s the difference between western and eastern Henrico?

“Henrico” is really two markets.

	West End (Glen Allen, Short Pump, Tuckahoe)	East End (Highland Springs, Sandston, Varina)
Feel	Established suburbs and newer planned communities	More rural pockets, older neighborhoods, newer subdivisions in Varina
Commute	Easy to Innsbrook, Broad Street and the I-64 corridor	Close to Richmond International Airport, I-64 east and I-295
Price	Above the county median: Glen Allen $472,115, Short Pump $529,975 (past 12 months)	Lower on the whole, which is how the county median lands at $405,000; ask for neighborhood comps
Who it fits	Families, professionals wanting shops and restaurants nearby	Buyers who want more house or land for the money

If you want to compare specific areas, our guides on whether Glen Allen is a good place to live and whether Short Pump is a good place to live go deeper. For the east side, our eastern Henrico relocation guide is a good start.

How much does a home cost in Henrico County?

Henrico County	2025	Past 12 months (Nov. 2025–Oct. 2026)
Median sale price	$400,000	$405,000
Closed sales	4,129	4,035
Median days on market	9	10
Median price per sq. ft.	$232	$237
Sale-to-list price	100%	100%

Keeton & Co analysis of CVR MLS data, closed residential sales.

On Oct. 3, 2026, Henrico had 898 active listings, about 2.7 months of supply. That’s more than in the spring, when supply ran around 1.5 to 1.8 months, so fall buyers have more room to negotiate.

Who lives in Henrico County?

Measure	Henrico County
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	342,775
Median household income (2020-2024)	$88,783
Homeownership rate	64.5%
Bachelor’s degree or higher	46.5%
Average commute	22.6 minutes
Persons in poverty	10.3%

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, checked Nov. 3, 2026.

The AI answer put median household income near $106,529 and said Henrico ranks “#9 among the best counties in Virginia.” I couldn’t verify either figure from the original source today, so I’m using the Census numbers above.

What do Henrico property taxes cost?

At $0.83 per $100, a $405,000 home owes about $3,362 a year, paid in halves due June 5 and December 5. On the same home in Chesterfield, at $0.89, it would be about $3,605. Our guide to Henrico County property taxes covers car tax, senior relief and appeals.

What do people overlook before moving to Henrico?

• Your mailing address may not match your county. Parts of “Richmond” and “Glen Allen” addresses are in Henrico, and some “Richmond” addresses near the line are in the city. Check the parcel before you assume taxes or schools.
• School zones change. Confirm the zoned schools for the exact address with Henrico County Public Schools; don’t rely on a listing description.
• Flood zones near the Chickahominy and James. East End and Varina buyers should check FEMA flood maps and get an insurance quote early.
• Airport noise. Some Sandston-area homes sit under flight paths.

Drive your commute at rush hour before you make an offer. Broad Street at 5:30 p.m. is a different road than it is on a Sunday.

Henrico or Chesterfield?

It’s the question I get most from people moving to Richmond. Henrico has a lower tax rate and quicker access to downtown and the West End. Chesterfield often gives you more new construction and space for similar money. Our side-by-side, Chesterfield or Henrico: what September 2026 sales show, breaks it down.

Why buy or sell in Henrico with Keeton & Co?

Keeton & Co closed 706 homes in the 12 months ending October 2026 and more than 4,200 all-time, with over 1,600 five-star Google reviews. RealTrends ranked us for 2025 with 718 sides and $295.32 million in volume.

• Pros: headquartered in Glen Allen; agents who know West End and East End neighborhoods; in-house listing and transaction coordination
• Trade-off: we’re a Central Virginia firm, so we’ll refer you to a partner if you’re buying outside our area

See Henrico County homes and market stats, start your home search or find out what your home is worth. Call 804-373-2223.

Market data: Keeton & Co analysis of CVR MLS data, Jan. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026; inventory as of Oct. 3, 2026. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Tax rates from Henrico and Chesterfield counties for 2026. AI answer captured from Brave Search on Nov. 3, 2026. Written by Daniel Keeton, Broker & Founder. Updated Nov. 3, 2026.