Greater Richmond welcomes and accepts all people in the community. The region is home to diverse people from every background, ideology and ability.
As a region full of historical significance, Richmond, Virginia, set the tone for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution with the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Today, the region ranks as one of the most religiously diverse cities in the United States.
41%
of the region’s population is non-white
#13
Most Diverse Midsize City (WalletHub, 2021)
#5
VCU named a most diverse campus
The state and region have policies friendly for everyone. In fact, the City has received a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index (a measure of LGBTQ+ policies and laws) from the Human Rights Campaign since 2021. Companies based here have also been recognized for their inclusion efforts on the Corporate Equality Index.
As companies seek to build an inclusive workforce, Greater Richmond provides a strategic advantage as the region is much more diverse than the U.S. average (41 percent non-white versus 32 percent). And we have a strong pipeline of diverse talent as the home to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) plus a Minority Serving Institution. Talent numbers are increasing as more and more people are choosing to relocate in this mid-market region.
Thanks to its proximity to Washington, D.C., Greater Richmond is a global region and is home to 220+ international companies, 8.5 percent of the population is foreign-born and more than 40 languages are spoken throughout the region. There are international student programs at the K-12 level as well as in higher education as well as weekend day school programs.
40+
languages spoken in Greater Richmond
#2
for Religious Diversity (WalletHub, 2021)
#3
Highest Median Earning for Female Workers + Highest Percentage of Women-Owned Businesses (WalletHub, 2021)
100
The City was given a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index
5%
more Black-owned businesses than the U.S. average
Top 9
Richmond named a Top Queer Friendly Destination (Thrillest, 2021)
More Information on Why Richmond