Jul 17, 2025 - Things to Do
Richmond ranks among top metros with most gyms
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Metro Richmond has one of the highest rates of gyms per a capita in the nation.
Why it matters: Gyms offer city dwellers a way to get and stay healthy, and can serve as excellent "third places" — a spot to hang out and connect outside home or work.
By the numbers: The Richmond metro has 17 gyms for every 100,000 residents, far more than the national average of 13.6.
- Richmond ranked No. 15 among big metro areas with the most gyms per capita.
- Bridgeport, Conn., Boston and San Diego take the crown with at least 20 gyms per 100,000 residents.
How it works: These figures represent "fitness and recreational sports centers" in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data for Q3 2024.
- Axios looked at metro areas with at least 500,000 residents, for which BLS had sufficient data.
The bottom line: If you can't find a place to work out in Richmond, it's a you problem, not an RVA one.