Radford 68 Good
Radford Livability #269 ranked city in Virginia#9,496 ranked city in the USARanks better than 67% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Radford

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Schools Schools

    The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

What's it like Living in Radford?

Radford is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Virginia. The city has a population of 18,418 residents. According to the most recent Census, 85% of Radford residents are White, 10% Black and 2% Asian. If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Radford residents is 24. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 27% of the Radford population is married. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Radford is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a good experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Radford, Virginia. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Radford and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, education and other important metrics.

Radford has a livability score of 67/100 and is ranked #271 in Virginia and #9,453 in the USA. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Radford scores well for crime (B-), cost of living (A+), education (A-) and housing (B-) Regrettably for Radford, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and employment (F).

Test scores serve as a vital gauge of a school's academic prowess and the proficiency of its students. They play a pivotal role in assessing whether local schools can deliver a robust educational foundation for children. In Radford, the schools boast an impressive average test score of 83%, significantly higher than the national average. This outstanding academic achievement not only reflects the excellence of the local educational system, but also indicates the potential for students to thrive academically, making it an attractive destination for families seeking a high-quality education for their children.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Radford excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Radford meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Radford. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Radford are simply unattainable. The median home price for Radford homes is $310,532, which is 28.6% lower than the Virginia average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Radford, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6, which is 33.3% higher than the Virginia average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Radford

See all the best places to live around Radford

How Do You Rate The Livability In Radford?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Radford, VA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Radford transportation information

      Statistic Radford Virginia National
      Average one way commute18min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.3%77.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.7%9.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.2%4.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle1.0%0.4%0.6%
      Workers who walk8.6%2.4%2.8%
      Working from home3.0%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The Radford, VA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.