Moving to Richmond: a practical guide
Housing and what it costs
The Orthodox community lives in Richmond’s Near West End, a leafy area of single-family homes along and off Patterson Avenue. It is one of the city’s pricier areas, though well below the Northeast’s Orthodox suburbs. Figures change fast — use the apartment search above for live listings.
Picking a street
Patterson Avenue is the spine: Congregation Kol Emes (the Young Israel) at 4811 and Keneseth Beth Israel at 6300 are a little over a mile apart, so choose which one you want to walk to. Chabad of Virginia is several miles further west on North Gaskins Road, a separate area.
Kosher and daily life
Kosher food is available but limited — supermarket kosher sections and a small number of supervised options — so many families plan meat and specialty shopping in advance. Richmond has three mikvaos: on Patterson Avenue, at the Young Israel and at Chabad.
Schools
The Rochkind Yeshiva of Virginia, a boys’ high school, is on Patterson Avenue. For younger children and girls, ask the shuls about current options. Confirm admissions and transportation directly with each school.
Who it fits
Families who want a small, established Orthodox community in a mid-sized Southern city, within a couple of hours of Washington, D.C., at a lower cost than the Northeast.