Richmond has been climbing the charts as one of the best places to live in the United States. U.S. News & World Report named Richmond #54 on its 2018 list based on the cost of living, quality of life, job market, and value compared to other cities. While the city itself might seem to be focused on young professionals, empty nesters, and college students, there are also welcoming neighborhoods for young families that don’t require moving out to the suburbs.  

Richmond neighborhoods tend to be close-knit communities with engaged neighborhood associations and activities ranging from block parties to holiday celebrations. Each has their own personality, and while where you live depends on so many different things, we think these are five of the best Richmond neighborhoods for young families.

The Fan / Museum District

Photo courtesy of Halloween on Hanover Avenue

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One of the best places in the U.S. (dare we say the world?) to trick or treat on Halloween is a few blocks of Hanover Street in The Fan. The annual block party has been going on since at least the 1970s and it’s gotten bigger and more elaborate over the years as neighbors seek to outdo each other in friendly, spooky competition. Another holiday event is the annual Holiday House Tour, which for 50 years has been raising money to fund park improvements, school projects, and neighborhood events.

A spirit of community exemplifies this area of Richmond, which also contains stroller-friendly sidewalks and museums that offer a number of different programs designed for kids. It’s urban living grounded in history, and the community wouldn’t have it any other way.

The West End

Photo courtesy of Maymont

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Technically, the West End includes the Fan and the Museum District, but like so much about Richmond neighborhoods, the exact definition of the neighborhood all depends on who you ask.  However you look at it, this area extending between the James River and Broad Street on the west side of I-95 has well-ranked schools, walkable neighborhoods, and engaging activities.

One of the family favorites is Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian estate and public park. There’s a farm and nature center, along with tours of the mansion and stunning gardens that are perfect for a picnic near a stream or an afternoon stroll through the Japanese and Italian gardens. In addition to summer camps, Maymont offers special programs during spring break that will delight kids as they learn how to grow plants in small spaces at Jack’s Vegetable Garden or chase fairies across the beautifully manicured lawns.

Forest Hill / Westover Hills

Photo courtesy of Forest Hill Park

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On the rare occasions when Richmond receives enough snow to cover the ground, you’ll find kids (and adults) sledding down the hill at Forest Hill Park over on the city’s Southside. The park is 105 acres with everything from open fields covered in lush grass to forested trails. There’s a lake where you can fish and the trails are perfect for biking, hiking, or taking the littlest ones out in a stroller. The South of the James Market, an open-air farmers market with around 90 local farmers and artisans, is held Saturday morning year-round from 8 a.m. to noon (9 a.m. in the winter). There’s also a summer concert series in the park. 

There are kid-friendly coffee shops and bakeries like Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream and WPA (the pastry shop’s Southside location) and several bike shops in the neighborhood to keep everyone rolling.

Stratford Hills

Photo courtesy of Pony Pasture Rapids Park

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A little west of Westover Hills is Stratford Hills, a neighborhood within the Richmond city limits that has a feeling of being out in wooded, nature-filled suburb. It’s a short walk to the Pony Pasture Rapids Park, where the kids can play and explore along the bank of the James River and safely swim when the water level is below five feet. It’s a popular spot with Richmonders and visitors alike, and you’ll be glad you can walk there in the summer when the parking lot is super crowded.

There’s easy access to pretty much anywhere in the Richmond metro area via the Powhite and Chippenham Parkways, while Carytown and Maymont are just across the Belvedere Bridge and Boulevard Bridge, respectively. (Fun fact: the Boulevard Bridge is known as the Nickel Bridge, so-called because of the original five-cent toll for crossing the bridge). And for upscale shopping, Stony Point Fashion Park is just a few minutes’ drive away.

North Side

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden photo courtesy of Eli Christman

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North Side, including the neighborhoods of Bellevue and Ginter Park, is an underrated area of Richmond, but more people are discovering that it’s possible to have neighborhoods where the yard is a great size for kids, houses are priced well, and there are a ton of amenities nearby. Built as a “streetcar suburb” in the late 1800s, many of the homes date from that era with all the charm that’s hip now in an area that is still affordable. Open green space is plentiful, with Bryan Park (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and Belmont Park right there. 

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, one of the top botanical gardens in the nation, has programs including summer camps and birthday parties for kids in their Children’s Garden. During the holidays, don’t miss the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights.

There’s also ARCPark, with 2.4 acres featuring three state-of-the-art playgrounds for toddlers, school-aged kids, and older kids with handicap-accessible fitness equipment and a multi-purpose playing court. And if you have budding NASCAR fans in your family, the Richmond Raceway is nearby.