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Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals

Just over a quarter of Richmond renters are spending more than half their income on housing, according to new Census data.

Why it matters: An excessive rent burden can make it harder to afford other basic needs, like groceries and transportation — or to save for a down payment that can turn rent checks to a landlord into mortgage payments towards home equity.

By the numbers: The 26.1% of Richmond renters forking over half or more of their paychecks to landlords translates into 42,947 locals, according to the 2023 1-year American Community Survey.

Nearly twice that — 83,700 Richmonders — spend 30% or more of their income on rent. 

The average rent in Richmond is $1,513 a month, according to the latest CoStar data.

Zoom out: Florida is home to several especially rent-burdened metros, including Port St. Lucie (where 36.6% of renters are spending more than half their income on rent), Cape Coral (35.1%) and Palm Bay (34.3%).

Between the lines: Geography is only part of the equation here — race plays a role, too.

30.6% of Black renters are spending more than half their income on rent, compared to 23.4% of white renters.

Stunning stat: The real median gross cost of renting — that's rent plus utility/energy costs — grew faster annually (+3.8%) than real median home values (+1.8%) last year for the first time in a decade, the Census Bureau points out.

The bottom line: It's tough out there to be a renter.

Many Richmonders spend more than half their paycheck on rent

rent

Chart shows 26.1% of Richmonders spend more than half their income on rent

Just over a quarter of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Richmond renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/08/16/richmond-rent-prices-increase" data-vars-content-id="66dddc72-fc3d-4aaf-8349-bf93953ad09e" data-vars-headline="Many Richmonders spend more than half their paycheck on rent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/08/16/richmond-rent-prices-increase" target="_self">Richmond renters</a> are spending more than half their income on housing, according to new Census data.Why it matters: An excessive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rent burden" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/05/richmond-renters-cost-burden-unaffordable" data-vars-content-id="66dddc72-fc3d-4aaf-8349-bf93953ad09e" data-vars-headline="Many Richmonders spend more than half their paycheck on rent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/05/richmond-renters-cost-burden-unaffordable" target="_self">rent burden</a> can make it harder to afford other <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="basic needs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/09/20/virginians-bills-struggle-map" data-vars-content-id="66dddc72-fc3d-4aaf-8349-bf93953ad09e" data-vars-headline="Many Richmonders spend more than half their paycheck on rent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/09/20/virginians-bills-struggle-map" target="_self">basic needs</a>, like groceries and transportation — or to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save for a down payment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/04/09/richmond-rent-cheaper-buying-savings" data-vars-content-id="66dddc72-fc3d-4aaf-8349-bf93953ad09e" data-vars-headline="Many Richmonders spend more than half their paycheck on rent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/04/09/richmond-rent-cheaper-buying-savings" target="_self">save for a down payment</a> that can turn rent checks to a landlord into mortgage payments towards home equity.

News

Real Estate

Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

The Richmond area's construction, agriculture/mining and accommodation/food services industries have the highest shares of foreign-born noncitizen workers, per census data.

State of play: These workers and the sectors that rely on them — which overlap with local hotels, restaurants and development projects — could more acutely feel the impact of deportations ramping up in the region.

One of the latest protests from immigrant rights advocates in Richmond was spurred by ICE agents detaining, and deporting, a 21-year-old construction worker on the way to work weeks ago.

By the numbers: Foreign-born noncitizens — including those who are legal residents or have work visas — make up around 6% of the region's civilian workforce age 16 and older, based on a 2019-2023 average of Census Bureau estimates.

They account for 17% of construction workers; 9.1% in agriculture and mining; and 8.5%  in hospitality and food service.

What we're watching: President Trump earlier this summer acknowledged that his massive immigration crackdown is "taking very good, long time workers away from" the farming and hotel industries, and promised changes.

But there haven't been any major policy decisions from the White House, which is balancing economic realities with MAGA demands to deport as many people as possible.

These Richmond industries are most reliant on noncitizen workers

Foreign-born noncitizens make up about 6% of the region's workforce.

A bar chart showing the share of workers in the Richmond metro area who are foreign-born noncitizens as a 2019 to 2023 average. An estimated 17% of construction workers are foreign-born noncitizens, the highest among 12 industries. Information has the lowest share, at about 2%.

The Richmond area&#x27;s construction, agriculture/mining and accommodation/food services industries have the highest shares of foreign-born noncitizen workers, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="census data." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/12/noncitizen-foreign-workers-industries" data-vars-content-id="7c5ad724-b261-4146-9c3f-3e09752ab91c" data-vars-headline="These Richmond industries are most reliant on noncitizen workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/12/noncitizen-foreign-workers-industries" target="_self">census data.</a>State of play: These workers and the sectors that rely on them — which overlap with local hotels, restaurants and development projects — could more acutely feel the impact of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations ramping up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/07/24/richmond-ice-arrests-check-ins-courthouses" data-vars-content-id="7c5ad724-b261-4146-9c3f-3e09752ab91c" data-vars-headline="These Richmond industries are most reliant on noncitizen workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/07/24/richmond-ice-arrests-check-ins-courthouses" target="_self">deportations ramping up</a> in the region.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Data: National Council on Aging and Urban Institute; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

More than 100,000 older Virginians eligible for a key federal food assistance program are not taking part, a new report finds.

Why it matters: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, can help low-income Americans afford today's sky-high grocery bills — but those qualifying need to apply.

The big picture: 70.2% of Americans 65 and older who qualify for SNAP aren't participating in the program, per a new report from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

That's about 9 million people who may be struggling to afford groceries but haven't tapped this major source of government aid.

Zoom in: Virginians 65 and over have a better participation rate than the national average. But still, 62.6% of Virginian seniors who could be receiving benefits aren't. 

SNAP participation varies greatly by region. Some counties in the southeast part of the state have the highest participation levels, but still hover near around just 50% of eligible seniors participating. 

By the numbers: Locally, 4,773 seniors in Henrico are eligible for SNAP benefits but not enrolled. 

In Richmond, 3,274 eligible elders are missing out, and 3,247 in Chesterfield.

Meanwhile, only 49% of older Americans eligible for Supplemental Security Income — that's Social Security payments — are enrolled.

What they're saying: "It's shocking and unacceptable to have 9 million eligible older adults not enrolled in benefits that can make the difference between them affording food or health care each month," NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin said in a statement accompanying the report.

"These individuals are struggling to afford basic necessities, and they are missing out on critical assistance."

The bottom line: Education and assistance is key — Americans who are eligible for these programs but not enrolled may not know about them, may not realize they can take part, or may need help getting signed up.

To learn more and see if you qualify, visit the state Department of Social Services. 

Editor's note: This map's pop-up data was corrected to reflects the percentage of SNAP-eligible older adults who are not enrolled in the program (not the percentage who are eligible).

Virginia's food aid gap, mapped

Food security

a map of virginia that mostly shows people not participating 

More than 100,000 older Virginians eligible for a key federal food assistance program are not taking part, a new report finds.Why it matters: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, can help low-income Americans afford today&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sky-high grocery bills" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/28/food-inflation-grocery-prices" data-vars-content-id="960a610e-53a7-472c-a183-99dd1e19cd28" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s food aid gap, mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/28/food-inflation-grocery-prices" target="_self">sky-high grocery bills</a> — but those qualifying <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="need to apply" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usa.gov/food-stamps" data-vars-content-id="960a610e-53a7-472c-a183-99dd1e19cd28" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s food aid gap, mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usa.gov/food-stamps" target="_blank">need to apply</a>.

Data: AdImpact; Note: "Campaigns" include spending by candidates or in coordination with party committees; "Outside groups" includes spending by non-candidate groups and party committees; Chart: Axios Visuals

Democrats are outspending Republicans on political ads in Richmond by about three-to-one since Aug. 1, according to data from analytics platform AdImpact.

Why it matters: Richmond and Virginia are considered pretty solidly blue and unlikely to flip in 2024.

By the numbers: As of Sept. 20, Democrats have spent $301,814 on ads booked for Aug. 1 through Nov. 5 in Richmond, compared to $98,503 for Republicans.

That includes spending by campaigns (from the presidential candidates down to lower-ballot hopefuls) and outside groups.

Campaigns alone, Democrats have spent $289,197, compared to $30,774 by Republicans.

Zoom in: Both parties are spending the most on ads running in Philadelphia, Detroit and Phoenix, among the metro areas tracked by AdImpact. 

What's next: With about a month and a half until Election Day, there's no end in sight for campaign ads.

Fun fact: Four of the top 10 overall donors statewide for the 2024-25 election cycle are from the Richmond area, per VPAP.

That includes Dominion Energy (which takes the No. 1 spot), Altria, Va Operators for Skill, and Genworth Financial CEO Thomas McInerney.

All have donated to both Democrats and Republicans, but Dominion and McInerney — who donated to Richmond mayoral candidate Harrison Roday — lean slightly toward Democratic candidates.

Go deeper: What's on the ballot in Richmond

Democrats are outspending Republicans in Richmond

Richmond and Virginia are considered pretty solidly blue and unlikely to flip in 2024 across all statewide and congressional races.

2024 elections

chart shows Democrats are outspending Republicans  by far in Richmond 

Democrats are outspending Republicans on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="political ads" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/08/ad-spending-for-24-heads-toward-2-billion-sneak-peek" data-vars-content-id="bf22b2ee-34f6-4ce6-9273-0a192321d78b" data-vars-headline="Democrats are outspending Republicans in Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/08/ad-spending-for-24-heads-toward-2-billion-sneak-peek" target="_self">political ads</a> in Richmond by about three-to-one since Aug. 1, according to data from analytics platform AdImpact.Why it matters: Richmond and Virginia are considered pretty solidly blue and unlikely to flip in 2024.

Data: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via UC Berkeley; Note: Arrests were counted even if they did not lead to detainment; Multiple arrests of the same individual were counted separately; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of people without criminal charges or convictions jumped in Virginia and D.C. in June, newly obtained data shows.

Why it matters: The numbers illustrate a major shift that came soon after the Trump administration tripled ICE's arrest quota.

Driving the news: In Virginia and D.C., people without criminal charges or convictions made up an average of 60% of daily ICE arrests in early June, up from about 50% in early May, before the quota increase.

In January, arrested people without criminal charges or convictions constituted an average of 29% of daily ICE arrests in the state. 

Nationwide, an average of 47% of daily ICE arrests in early June were of people without criminal records, up from about 21% in early May.

Context: Those stats are according to agency data obtained by the UC Berkeley School of Law's Deportation Data Project via Freedom of Information Act requests, and based on seven-day trailing averages.

Being in the U.S. illegally is a civil, not criminal, violation.

The big picture: Virginia is one of a handful of states where efforts to arrest and remove unauthorized immigrants appear most aggressive. 

In February, the state launched the nation's first task force that partners with federal agencies to target illegal immigration. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via UC Berkeley

ICE arrests of people without criminal records surge in Virginia and D.C.

The shift came soon after the Trump administration tripled ICE's arrest quota.

A line chart showing monthly ICE arrests in the Washington Field Office region by reported criminal status, from January to June 2025. In January, ICE arrested 336 people in the area, of which 29% did not have a criminal charge. By June, 60% of the 852 people ICE arrested did not have a criminal cha

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of people without criminal charges or convictions jumped in Virginia and D.C. in June, newly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="obtained data shows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/17/trump-ice-raids-arrests-immigration" data-vars-content-id="fc39c9e5-e6f7-49e2-8716-0961f3615d58" data-vars-headline="ICE arrests of people without criminal records surge in Virginia and D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/17/trump-ice-raids-arrests-immigration" target="_self">obtained data shows</a>.Why it matters: The numbers illustrate a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major shift" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/15/trump-strategy-deport-legal-immigrants" data-vars-content-id="fc39c9e5-e6f7-49e2-8716-0961f3615d58" data-vars-headline="ICE arrests of people without criminal records surge in Virginia and D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/15/trump-strategy-deport-legal-immigrants" target="_self">major shift</a> that came soon after the Trump administration tripled ICE&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="arrest quota" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/immigration-ice-deportations-stephen-miller" data-vars-content-id="fc39c9e5-e6f7-49e2-8716-0961f3615d58" data-vars-headline="ICE arrests of people without criminal records surge in Virginia and D.C." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/immigration-ice-deportations-stephen-miller" target="_self">arrest quota</a>.

Axios New Orleans

New Orleans loves St. Patrick's Day, but it's not very Irish

New Orleans

Choropelth map showing U.S. Irish ancestry by county, as a 2020-2024 average. The national average was 9.4%. Nearly every county in  New England and New York reported above 12%. Southern states had  the least, with places like El Paso County, Texas with 2.2%.

Share of people reporting Irish ancestry ☘️ 

Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Map: Axios Visuals

Axios Pittsburgh

🇮🇪 Mapped: Our Irish roots

Pittsburgh

Axios Chicago

How much a babysitter will cost you in Chicago

Chicago

Average babysitting rates in 2025

Data: UrbanSitter; Note: Metro areas sorted by average rate for 2 children; Chart: Axios Visuals 

Axios Hill Leaders

MAP: See where a blue wave would swipe the most GOP seats

National

A cartogram of U.S. congressional districts showing how party overperformance and redistricting could affect the 2026 midterms.

2025-12-19-dem-overperformance

Data: The Downballot and Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Veterans Day events planned in New Orleans

A choropleth map of U.S. states showing the estimated share of adult civilians who are veterans in 2024. Nationally, 5.9% of adults are veterans. The share is highest in Alaska, with 9.9%, and lowest in D.C., with 3.1%.

Kavya Beheraj

Featured stories

New Orleans loves St. Patrick's Day, but it's not very Irish

🇮🇪 Mapped: Our Irish roots

How much a babysitter will cost you in Chicago

MAP: See where a blue wave would swipe the most GOP seats

Veterans Day events planned in New Orleans