Cost of Living & Housing in Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights offers genuinely affordable housing relative to the broader Richmond metro area, though this record discloses a real, unresolved property-tax-rate inconsistency across aggregator sources worth understanding before budgeting.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreHome prices: a genuine affordability strength
Zillow cites a typical home value of $277,081 for Colonial Heights, up 7.9% over the past year, while Redfin's November 2025 reading cited a median sale price of $273,000 (up 6.9% YoY) (base record). Both figures cluster in the same genuinely affordable range, meaningfully below typical Richmond-metro pricing.
Property tax: a real, disclosed research gap
Aggregator sources returned conflicting effective property-tax-rate readings for Colonial Heights -- roughly 0.89% under one grouping and 1.20% under another -- with no single confirmed nominal city rate independently verified this session (base record). This likely reflects data-labeling confusion given Colonial Heights' unusual status as an independent city rather than a county subdivision. Confirm the current rate directly with the Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue before budgeting.
Sales tax and Virginia income tax, for context
Colonial Heights' combined sales tax rate is 6.0% -- Virginia's 4.3% state rate, plus a 1.0% city local rate, plus a 0.7% Central Virginia regional transportation tax (base record). Virginia's income tax runs a four-bracket schedule (2% to $3,000; 3% to $5,000; 5% to $17,000; 5.75% above that) that functions as a near-flat 5.75% for most working filers; Social Security is fully exempt, and residents 65+ get an age deduction of up to $12,000, phased out above $50,000 (single)/$75,000 (married) federal AGI.
No hurricane risk, but real inland flood exposure
Colonial Heights sits well inland along the Appomattox River, with essentially no direct hurricane landfall risk. Its real hazard profile comes from inland remnant tropical-system Appomattox River flooding -- the region's most severe documented tropical flood event remains Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, which specifically affected the Appomattox River basin -- and severe thunderstorm activity (base record).
Key takeaways
- Housing is genuinely affordable relative to the Richmond metro area: $273K-$277K depending on source, with real, steady recent appreciation (roughly 7%-8% YoY).
- Property tax carries a real, disclosed research gap (0.89%-1.20% effective across conflicting sources) -- confirm the current rate directly with the city before budgeting.
- Combined sales tax runs 6.0%, above Virginia's 5.30% statewide floor due to the Central Virginia regional transportation tax.
- No direct hurricane risk given the inland location, but real inland remnant-tropical-system Appomattox River flood risk applies.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Colonial Heights overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert