Town · Virginia
Richlands, Virginia
Richlands, town, in Tazewell County, Virginia. Richlands had 5,051 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,261 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,171 (±21). GEOID 5166928.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,051
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,261 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,171 ±21
Median household income
$37,154
±$6,629 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$111,000
±$9,268 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$804
±$83 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Richlands and what county is it in?
Richlands is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia. It covers 5.7 square miles of land, 931 residents per square mile in 2020.
Richlands is in the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Richlands, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,051 people lived in Richlands on July 1, 2025, down 4.4% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,261 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,171 (±21).
| Measure | Richlands | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,171 ±21 | 39,624 | −197 |
| Households | 2,297 ±171 | 16,290 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.16 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,803 ±226 | 19,768 | no clear change |
Richlands's population since 2000
From 4,144 in 2000 to 5,051 in 2025: up 21.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Richlands as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Richlands?
The median resident of Richlands is 44.5 years old; 21.7% are under 18 and 25.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 97.6%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 1.9%.
| Measure | Richlands | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 ±9.2 | 45.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.7% ±4.0 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.0% ±4.9 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Male | 45.4% ±3.0 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 97.6% ±2.5 pts | 92.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.9% ±2.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±2.1 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 21.8% ±4.3 pts | 20.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±2.3 pts | 4.1% | −5.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.2% ±3.7 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.5% ±5.2 pts | 16.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.2% ±2.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.9% ±2.6 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Richlands earn?
Half of Richlands's 2,297 households earn less than $37,154 a year (±$6,629), against $47,313 in Tazewell County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $37,659 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Richlands | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,154 ±$6,629 | $47,313 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,175 ±$11,268 | $69,710 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,915 ±$5,337 | $29,519 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 30.2% ±6.9 pts | 18.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 50.4% ±13.2 pts | 29.1% | +22.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.0% ±5.6 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.7% ±3.7 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.4% ±4.6 pts | 85.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Richlands?
Owners occupy 63.8% of Richlands's occupied homes and renters 36.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,000 by its owner (±$9,268). The median renter pays $804 a month including utilities, and 44.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Richlands | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $111,000 ±$9,268 | $118,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $804 ±$83 | $795 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.6% ±15.3 pts | 33.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,189 ±$239 | $1,159 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.8% ±6.6 pts | 74.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.2% ±6.6 pts | 25.6% | – |
| Housing units | 2,803 ±226 | 19,768 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8% ±6.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.5% ±5.8 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 28.4% ±5.7 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5% ±2.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.6% ±5.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.6% ±4.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Richlands work and get to work?
79.3% of Richlands's workers drive alone and 7.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.
| Measure | Richlands | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 35.3% ±5.5 pts | 44.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±3.5 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.3% ±7.6 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3% ±6.4 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.8% ±4.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.9 min ±5.8 | 27.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Richlands?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Richlands, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $31,019 (Tract 209) to $33,324 (Tract 210).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Richlands) · Census block assignment files
How does Richlands compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Richlands is the 4,868th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 63rd-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Richlands ranks 360th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 63rd | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 128th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 239th | 374 |
| Median household income | 360th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 336th | 374 |
| Median home value | 348th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 293rd | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 7th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 341st | 359 |
| Median age | 84th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 229th | 368 |
| Work from home | 261st | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 150th | 372 |
Richlands's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Richlands with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Richlands?
15 of the 57 figures for Richlands on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Richlands are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Richlands.