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Approximately 85 percent of the population is white, with heritage primarily English, Scots-Irish, and German. The Black population is around 7 percent, with a historical presence dating to the 19th century. Hispanics represent approximately 4 to 5 percent and are growing, with Mexicans forming the largest group, many employed in local manufacturing and construction.

Eastern Kentucky University brings approximately 16,000 students, including international students from China, India, South Korea, Middle Eastern countries, and Africa. This keeps the city's average age younger and generates international academic communities, especially around the campus. A military presence also exists due to the nearby Blue Grass Army Depot, with military families and veterans in the area.

Religiously, Protestantism predominates (Southern Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and independent churches), with First Baptist Church of Richmond and several active congregations. Catholic parishes (St. Mark) are present, along with small Muslim communities (affiliated with EKU), Hindu, and Buddhist groups. Hispanic evangelical and Catholic churches also serve the community. The median age is younger than the national average due to the university population.

Near Eastern Kentucky University, around Lancaster Avenue and Kit Carson Drive, apartment complexes and houses cater to students and young professionals. Westgate, Eastland, and areas west of campus feature well-maintained traditional homes. The historic downtown, with Main Street and Lancaster Avenue, has Victorian and Federal-style homes with architectural character.

The east side of the city, particularly around Goggins Lane, Boggs Lane, and the Battlefield Park area, has newer suburbs with modern homes, mid-sized lots, and proximity to the hospital. Established families tend to choose areas such as Brookline Plaza, Berea Road, and neighborhoods around the Madison Country Club. Big Hill Avenue has a commercial corridor with mixed residential properties.

For those seeking more space, semi-rural properties are available to the east and south, with homes on small farms and large lots. Many people who work in Lexington choose to live in Richmond for the lower cost of living. Local real estate agencies such as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Foster Realtors, Coldwell Banker McMahan, and RE/MAX Excellence are prominent in the market.

Madison County Schools serves both city and county students, with Madison Central High and Madison Southern High as the main public schools. The system is well-regarded by Kentucky standards, with AP programs, strong athletics (especially football and basketball), and reasonable facilities. ELL programs serve the growing immigrant student population.

Private options include Madison Christian Academy and small Catholic schools (Madison County has active parishes). For children from low-income families, programs such as Head Start are available. The Model Laboratory School (associated with EKU) offers an alternative K-12 option.

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is the largest institution, a public university with traditionally strong programs in criminal justice (College of Justice and Safety, one of the leading programs nationally, with courses in law enforcement, national security, and forensic science), nursing, education, and business. Enrollment is approximately 16,000 students. Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) serves the region with two-year programs. Berea College is 15 minutes away.

Crime in Richmond is below the national average for violent offenses. The profile is typical of a mid-sized Southern-Midwestern university town: property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins, and alcohol-related incidents in university areas) accounts for the majority of occurrences, with higher volumes near EKU on evenings and weekends during the academic year.

Residential neighborhoods such as Boggs Lane, Brookline, Westgate, and the suburbs around Madison Country Club are quiet. The Richmond Police Department and EKU Police patrol the city. The Madison County Sheriff covers rural areas. Emergency response via 911 is rapid. Prevention programs and university partnerships are in place.

Natural hazards include tornadoes (the region has a primary season in April-May and October-November), flooding in low-lying areas near the Kentucky River and Tates Creek, and ice storms in winter. Sirens and emergency protocols are in place at schools and businesses. The Blue Grass Army Depot stored chemical agents for decades (destroyed through a program completed in 2023), and the city operated under related protocols, which are now concluded.

Summer in Richmond runs from June through September, with highs between 84 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity. Frequent thunderstorms occur in July. Nights drop to around 66 to 70 degrees. Air conditioning is essential.

Winter is cold but short. Lows range from 23 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit from December through February, with more severe cold snaps reaching around 9 degrees. Snow accumulates between 12 and 16 inches per year and melts quickly. Central heating is standard, and spring is wet with storms in May.

For day-to-day living, count on strong air conditioning for summer and heavy clothing for a few weeks in winter. Richmond is a university city, home to Eastern Kentucky University, with a low cost of living. Fall brings vivid foliage across the Bluegrass hills in October. Spring is wet and unsettled with an occasional tornado risk.

Richmond sits in Kentucky's Bluegrass Region, 30 minutes south of Lexington via I-75. The city is home to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), with around 15,000 students, and was the site of the Battle of Richmond in 1862, one of the largest Confederate victories in Kentucky. The Battle of Richmond Visitor Center, on Battlefield Memorial Highway, recounts the conflict with trails through the preserved battlefield.

The Madison County Historical Society Museum and White Hall State Historic Site, the former home of abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay, tell the local story. Downtown Main Street, lined with restored brick buildings, hosts restaurants such as Madison Garden and Apollo Pizza, along with the EKU Center for the Arts. The Lake Reba Recreational Complex offers trails, a lake, and athletic fields.

The surrounding natural landscape is generous. Daniel Boone National Forest begins to the east, with Red River Gorge an hour away, a world-class rock climbing destination. Nearby Berea, a craft arts town, hosts the Mountain Folk Festival. The bourbon trail runs through Versailles and Frankfort. In autumn, local farms such as Acres of Land Winery draw families looking for seasonal activities.