Rent vs buy in Carytown & Museum District
Richmond, VA · ZIP 23221 · computed from 71 active listings within about 1.5 miles on August 19, 2026
The one number that matters
Renting a 1-bedroom here costs $1,395 a month at the median. Owning a matched 1-bedroom costs about $1,902 a month all in on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $233,250: mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA.
The market right now
- 1-bedroom: $1,395/mo median rent
- 2-bedroom: $1,895/mo median rent
- 3-bedroom: $3,100/mo median rent
studio and 4-bedroom rentals are not shown: fewer than 5 active listings, too few to publish a median from.
71 homes actively for sale within about 1.5 miles, spanning 4 1-bed, 17 2-bed, 34 3-bed, 9 4-bed, 5 5-bed, 1 6-bed. 20 of them sit inside 23221 itself.
Rent medians over 92 active rental listings in 23221.
What buying takes
- 1-bedroom: $255,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 2-bedroom: $349,950 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 3-bedroom: $605,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 4-bedroom: $699,000 median list price (market context, not the basis)
- 5-bedroom: $1,199,999 median list price (market context, not the basis)
All-in monthly to own: $1,902 for a 1-bedroom, $2,389 for a 2-bedroom, $3,032 for a 3-bedroom - mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA carried.
Cash to close on a matched 1-bedroom: about $51,315 ($46,650 down plus $4,665 closing), on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $233,250.
The roommate math nobody shows you
A matched 2-bedroom here runs about $2,389 a month to own on the homes the engine actually matches here, typically around $334,967. Split two ways, that is about $1,222 per person. Qualifying for the same home solo takes roughly $80,000 a year at the standard 36 percent lender cap: rent splits between people, a mortgage qualification does not.
On the market in Carytown & Museum District
| Address | Beds | Price | Cash to close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 303 S Arthur Ashe Blvd #U3 | 1 | $230,000 | $50,600 |
| 2322 Herbert Hamlet Aly Al U3 | 1 | $214,750 | $47,245 |
| 4632 Grove Ave Unit 5 | 1 | $255,000 | $56,100 |
| 3517 Hanover Ave APT B | 1 | $265,000 | $58,300 |
The engine's own top matches for a typical renter here; each cash-to-close is 20 percent down plus closing on that home's price.
Carytown rent, and the number beside it
$1,395 a month rents a one-bedroom around Carytown and the Museum District, a payment that resets every year and accumulates nothing. Owning a matched one-bedroom here costs about $1,902 a month once every carrying cost is counted.
$233,250 is the price behind that figure. 20 homes are listed inside 23221 and 71 sit within about 1.5 miles, so the matched pool is narrow relative to how many people rent here.
$51,315 is the sum required at closing, about 8.6 years of saving $500 a month. Two people sharing a matched two-bedroom each pay near $1,222 monthly, while qualifying alone calls for income around $80,000 at the 36 percent lender cap.
Keep exploring
- Downtown Richmond · own from about $1,704/mo
- The Fan & VCU · own from about $1,678/mo
- Northside & Highland Park
- Church Hill & East End
- Manchester & Blackwell · own from about $2,179/mo
- All Richmond, VA neighborhoods
- Introducing LeaseLens: how the rent-vs-buy math actually works
Common questions
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carytown & Museum District?
The median 1-bedroom rents for about $1,395 a month, while owning a matched 1-bedroom runs about $1,902 a month all in (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any HOA) at a typical price of $233,250.
How much cash do I need to buy in Carytown & Museum District?
About $51,315 covers a 20 percent down payment plus closing costs on a matched 1-bedroom. Lower down payment paths exist; this is the standard construction.
Can roommates buy together in Carytown & Museum District?
Splitting a 2-bedroom two ways runs about $1,222 per person each month, while qualifying for the same home solo takes roughly $80,000 of annual income at the standard 36 percent lender cap.
Run it on your actual lease
These figures describe a typical renter. Upload your lease and LeaseLens computes the same comparison on your real rent, income, and savings, then watches the market for you.
Analyze my leaseData updated August 19, 2026.
How these numbers are computed
Every figure comes from the same engine that powers the LeaseLens comparison, run over live inventory in 23221: rent medians from active rental listings, ownership costs from the engine's top-matched-homes construction, and the crossover year from its 30-year net worth projection. The reference buyer is a solo renter with good credit, a $100k income, 20 percent down, and cash covering the close. Your own lease and finances will move every number, which is what the full comparison is for.