There are a ton of reasons to start living in Sandston! Sandston VA was an agricultural community until World War I, when the government built homes in the community for soldiers. An investor named Oliver J. Sands bought the area in 1921 to build a railway through it. More residents began moving into town, and they formed the community of Sandston VA, naming it after Oliver Sands.
Sandston is well known for being a suburb of Richmond VA close to Richmond International Speedway and other popular attractions. But it’s also a very nice place to live with convenient access to public transportation, a low cost of living, and unique restaurants.
You may be interested in moving to Sandston VA, but you should take a few minutes to learn more about living in Sandston. Here are the facts about this incredible census-designated community.
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Where Is Sandston? | Location and Transportation
Sandston is in Henrico County and the Richmond metropolitan area. It is 9 miles from Sandston VA to Richmond VA. Sandson borders Montrose, Highland Springs, Henrico, Williamson Farms, and Varina VA. Sandston contains Richmond International Airport, which takes up a large amount of space in southern Sandston. Western Sandston VA contains commercial areas and residential communities, while eastern Sandston is largely undeveloped with a few small residential areas.
The GRTC Transit System provides bus services to Sandston residents. Rus routes 7A, 7B, 56, and 91 run through and near the community; you can use this route map to see where routes go and where stops are. Richmond Airport is a hub for shuttle buses, taxis, ridesharing services, and other ground transportation you can use to get around Sandston and Richmond. If you prefer to drive while living in or moving to Sandston, you can use Interstate 64 and Interstate 295 on the borders of the community. Both of these roads provide convenient access to many cities near Richmond VA.
Sandston Population and Demographics
The population of Sandston VA in 2020 was 7,779, including 390 veterans. The population grew by 2.7%, and the population density is 788.5 people per square mile, which is roughly half the countywide density. Notable people from Sandston and Henrico County include Constance Wu, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Daniel Lynch.
Sandston VA demographics include:
- 54.9% female, 45.1% male
- Median age: 38.1
- Racial and ethnic composition: 51.1% White (48.8% non-Hispanic), 40.4% Black or African American, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% two or more races, 2.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
- Median household income: $54,221 (two-thirds of the state median)
- Educational attainment: 85.0% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 12.2% have a bachelor’s degree
- Foreign-born population: 5.1%
Sandston is a hub for the Black and African American communities in Henrico County. The rate of Black and African American people in Sandston is twice the state average and over ten percentage points higher than in the Richmond metro area.
Sandston is a safe place to live, especially if you compare its crime figures to the national average. Here are its latest crime statistics:
- Overall crime rate: 1,904 offenses per 100,000 people (14.4% higher than the state average, 18.8% lower than the national average)
- Violent crime rate: 239 crimes per 100,000 people (14.4% higher than the state average, 38.4% lower than the national average)
- Property crime rate: 1,665 offenses per 100,000 residents (14.4% higher than the state average, 15% lower than the national average)
The Henrico County Police Division provides law enforcement services to Sandston and employs 584 employees. The South Station (also known as the Fair Oaks Substation) is in Sandston VA.
Cost of Living in Sandston Virginia
You can use cost of living statistics for Richmond and Henrico County to understand the cost of living in Sandston. The Richmond cost of living index is 96.1; items in the metropolitan area cost 3.9% less than the national average for those items. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Henrico County must earn $90,121 a year to cover the cost of living. Sandston is an affordable place to live, especially if you’re by yourself or living with a partner.
Sandston real estate is very affordable. According to Redfin, the median sale price of houses for sale Sandston VA is $262,500. According to RentCafe, the average cost of rent for apartments in Sandston VA is $1,152 a month.
Typical Sandston VA* Living Expenses
- 1 loaf of fresh white bread: $2.39
- 1 pound of local cheese: $4.39
- 1 pound of apples: $2.34
- 1 pound of potatoes: $1.22
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.41
- Average Sandston* utilities per month: $149.08
- 1 summer dress: $43.03
Source: Numbeo
*Expenses actually for Richmond
Sandston VA Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Sandston VA
Sandston VA does not have formal neighborhoods, though you can divide the community informally to make purchasing Sandston real estate easier. The Sandston VA real estate market is small; only 12 houses for sale in Sandston VA were sold in July 2023, down by 7.7% year over year. 11 of the 12 sold properties were single-family homes, though you can also buy lots to build properties.
Most Sandston VA houses for sale are in northern Sandston, away from Richmond Airport. You can find newly constructed and midcentury homes containing three or more bedrooms and covering 2,000 square feet. Sandston homes for sale tend to have two stories and great features like open kitchen designs and screened-in porches. Most single-family, three-bedroom homes at 2,000 square feet cost less than $500,000 upfront.
You can also find homes for rent in Sandston VA, including properties near Richmond Airport. These homes can accommodate families, as they contain three or four bedrooms and cover more than 1,000 square feet. Three-bedroom homes at 1,000 square feet cost less than $1,700 a month to rent, so young professionals can acquire them.
Sandston VA Weather
Sandston has a humid subtropical climate with warm and wet summers and freezing and snowy winters. Sandston’s warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 79 degrees and an average high of 88. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 38 degrees and an average low of 31.
Sandston VA weather is consistently cloudy; roughly 45.1% of days are overcast or mostly cloudy. Rain falls throughout the year, with each month experiencing at least 2.4 inches of rain. Sandston Virginia receives 37.9 inches of rain and 12.5 inches of snow a year on average. Humidity peaks in July, when 22.5 days feel muggy, oppressive, or miserable. Humidity levels rise drastically during June and don’t fall to comfortable levels until September. Check the weather forecast Sandston VA before going outside in the summer.
October is the best month to visit Sandston VA. It’s the clearest month, with 63% clear, mostly clear, and partly cloudy days. The average temperature is 59 degrees, but the average high is 70 degrees, so you can go outside wearing a long sleeved shirt without a coat or gloves.
Things to Do in Sandston VA
Sandston VA contains and is near numerous unique attractions, including free outside points of interest and kid-friendly activities. White Oak Village is an outdoor shopping center with dozens of stores, including major retailers like Lowe’s and JCPenney. Laburnum Park Shopping Center is across the street from White Oak Village and contains small stores, including hair salons and banks.
Rollerdome
Rollerdome is a family-friendly indoor skating rink open on evenings and afternoons. Anyone can skate at the Rollerdome for $10 or less, making it one of the most affordable indoor attractions in the Richmond area. Rollerdome runs Sunday skating sessions where proceeds go to VA Pride.
4902 Williamsburg Road, Richmond, VA, 23231, 804-726-2841
Chickahominy Family YMCA
The Chickahominy Williamsburg YMCA contains numerous amenities, including wellness centers, indoor heated pools, and sports fields. YMCA Williamsburg runs community programs throughout the year for teens and children, teaching them how to swim, make art, and exercise.
5401 Whiteside Road, Sandston, VA, 23150, 804-737-9622
Henrico Theatre
The Henrico Theater is a historic Art Deco theater home to live theatrical performances, movie screenings, and other events in winter and other parts of the year. You can rent the theatre out at night for birthday parties and private screenings at low cost.
305 East Nine Mile Road, Highland Springs, VA, 23075, 804-652-1460
Additional Things to Do in Sandston
The Henrico County Division of Recreation and Parks takes care of Sandston VA parks and public facilities and plans special events in Sandston VA. You can find out when the next movie screenings, parties, and community gatherings will be using this calendar.
Sandston Virginia Restaurants
Richmond may be best known for the sailor sandwich and canned beer. But you can sample numerous delicious dishes at low expense in Sandston Virginia restaurants, including incredible Italian and barbeque entrees.
Sandston Bistro
Sandston Bistro is best known for its 32 flavors of ice cream, but it’s also a great place for subs, burgers, and sandwiches. All sandwiches cost less than $10, making it a perfect eatery for a quick and affordable meal.
18 East Williamsburg Road, Sandston, VA, 23150, 804-328-1599
Backwoodz
Backwoodz is a casual barbeque restaurant that serves pulled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, and brisket. You can order meals with one meat and two sides for $15 or less, and you can try a rotating list of unique daily specials.
400 West Williamsburg Road, Sandston, VA, 23150, 804-286-3168
Roma
Roma Ristorante is a must do classy Italian restaurant that offers pizza and pasta as well as salads, chicken, and steak. Roma Restaurant has a full bar where you can enjoy happy hour cocktails, draft beers, and wine by the glass and bottle.
325 East Williamsburg Road, Sandston, VA, 23150, 804-328-6699
Jobs in Sandston VA
Roughly 3,820 people have jobs in Sandston VA; the Sandston job market grew by 3.3% between 2019 and 2020, with the community adding more than 100 jobs to the economy. Health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and retail trade are the three biggest job sectors.
According to Payscale, the average base salary for Sandston Virginia jobs is $60,000 a year and the average base hourly rate is $17.65. Major employers in Sandston VA include Waco Inc, Infineon, and United Airlines. You can find thousands of jobs in Sandston VA using Indeed, and you can apply for Henrico County jobs on the county government’s portal.
Sandston Schools
Henrico County Public Schools serves students living in Sandston VA. Sandston VA contains two elementary schools, Sandston Elementary School and Seven Pines Elementary School. 87% of students at Sandston Elementary School test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, five percentage points higher than the state average. 97% of teachers at Seven Pines are certified, and 93% have at least three years of experience.
Elko Middle School is also in Sandston VA. Elko is one of the most diverse middle schools in the state, with 60.2% of students identifying as Black or African American and 9.9% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. Sandston does not have any high schools; Elko students can go to Varina High School in Henrico. Varina has a graduation rate of 92% and is well known for its athletics programs. Sandston is not home to any notable private schools.
The closest major college or university to Sandston is Reynolds Community College in Richmond. Reynolds offers dozens of associate’s and certificate programs, including in the culinary arts and industrial trades.
The Sandston Library has thousands of books you can take out as well as laptops and scanners you can use on site. The Sandston VA library is also home to book clubs, book readings, and other family-friendly events.
Sandston VA Statistics and Information
- County: Henrico County
- Sandston VA area: 10.0 square miles
- Sandston VA zip code: 23150
- Sandston VA area code: 804
- Sandston VA elevation: 164 feet
- Sandston VA time zone: Eastern Standard Time
- Closest airport to Sandston VA: Richmond International Airport (RIC), inside Sandston
Sandston VA Map
You can find more top attractions, restaurants, and homes for sale with this Sandston VA map.
Moving to Sandston VA is a phenomenal choice! Commuters and businesspeople will love the access to Richmond International Airport, major highways, and public transportation. Families and kids will love the safe streets, beautiful parks, and prosperous jobs.
But living in Sandston VA requires a little help from a moving company. On the Fly Moving employs the most reliable Sandston movers. Get a free moving estimate by calling 804-836-4954.
