What's It Really Like Living in Midlothian, VA? A Salisbury Local's Answer

Short answer: Living in Midlothian means living in Chesterfield County, south of the James River and southwest of downtown Richmond. Locals call this side of the river Southside. It's a mix of older wooded neighborhoods, newer planned communities, and a small historic village along Midlothian Turnpike. Salisbury is one of the oldest planned neighborhoods here. Building started in 1958, and it's now about 1,600 homes on wooded lots around a private country club and two private lakes.

I know that because I lived it. I moved into a house in Salisbury when I was 13, and I did not want to be there. Today I live less than two miles away.

I'm Christine Case, a REALTOR® with NextHome Advantage in Midlothian, Virginia, helping buyers and sellers in Chesterfield County and Metro Richmond make real estate decisions with real guidance instead of sales pressure.

I was 13 when we moved in, and I was not happy about it. New house, new everything, and nobody asked me.

Our driveway was gravel back then. So many rocks. My dad paved it a few years after we moved in, and I remember that like it was a family milestone. It kind of was.

I went back recently and stood in front of that house. The pine trees are the same ones from when I was a kid. It's been a few decades, and they're still standing.

That's the part of Salisbury an app can't show you. The trees are tall and old. The houses have had two, three, sometimes four owners. The roads curve because the land curves. It doesn't feel like it was built last year, because it wasn't.

Not long after we moved to Virginia, my dad turned 40. My mom threw him a surprise birthday party at Salisbury Country Club.

My dad wasn't the tallest man, and 40 is prime territory for gag gifts. One of them was a really nice pair of wooden stilts.

He didn't get much use out of them. But I did. I loved those silly stilts. I spent hours walking up and down that driveway and our street on them, Walkman on, playing my favorite '80s songs.

So yes, I started out not wanting to live in Salisbury. Then I saw it from a few feet higher up, physically and figuratively. Mostly physically at first.

Here is that house, and those same pine trees, in under a minute:

Salisbury sits in Midlothian, in Chesterfield County, along the Robious Road corridor, close to the village of Midlothian.

If you're new to Richmond, the local shorthand helps. South of the James River is Southside, and that's where Midlothian and Salisbury are. The West End is across the river, in Henrico County and the western part of the city. Short Pump is West End.

Midlothian itself isn't a town with its own government. It's an unincorporated community inside Chesterfield County. That matters for two practical reasons: your property taxes, and who runs your services (the county).

Rough drive times from Salisbury:

• Route 288: about 5 minutes
• Downtown Richmond: about 15 to 20 minutes
• Short Pump, across the river in the West End: about 15 to 20 minutes
• Richmond International Airport: about 25 minutes

Those are typical times, not rush hour. Drive them at the hour you'd really drive them before you decide.

The neighborhood takes its name from Salisbury, an estate on this land that dates to the 1760s. The original house burned in 1923.

The Salisbury Corporation bought the land in June 1956 and began building the subdivision in 1958. Salisbury Country Club opened in 1963. Its clubhouse sits near where the original house stood.

Midlothian's history goes back further. The first commercially mined coal in America came from here in the 1700s. You can walk the old mine site today at Mid-Lothian Mines Park, a 44-acre county park that opened in 2004.

Building started in 1958, but most of Salisbury went up in the 1970s and 1980s. You'll see a lot of traditional two-story Colonial-style homes, some ranches, and newer homes in later sections. Many sit on wooded lots with mature trees.

Here's what Chesterfield County's own property records show for single-family homes in Salisbury's sections:

• Number of homes: about 1,600, which matches the Salisbury Homeowners Association's count
• When they were built: mostly the 1970s and 1980s. The middle year is 1983.
• Lot size: most lots are about three-quarters of an acre to just over an acre. The typical lot is a little under one acre.
• Recent sale prices: 57 recorded sales over the last 12 months. The middle price was about $826,000, and prices ran from about $539,000 to $2.6 million.
• Sewer: about a third of the homes aren't connected to public sewer, which usually means a septic system.

Those sale prices come from county deed records, not the MLS, so a few may be sales that were never on the market. Want the current picture for a specific street or price range? Ask me.

Three costs to know before you fall in love with a house:

1. Property taxes. Chesterfield County's 2026 real estate tax rate is $0.89 per $100 of assessed value. On a home assessed at $800,000, that's $7,120 a year. Check the county's assessment for the specific home, not the list price.
2. Homeowners association. Salisbury Homeowners Association dues are voluntary, $125 a year. The neighborhood's recorded covenants and restrictions are not optional. They apply to every home, whether or not the owner pays dues. Read them before you buy: Salisbury covenants and restrictions.
3. Lake and club memberships, if you want them. Lake Salisbury is run by its own association, with yearly dues of $245. Salisbury Country Club is private and member-owned, with its own membership and cost. Neither comes with the house.

You can look up any home's county assessment in Chesterfield's free Real Estate Assessment Data tool.

• Lake Salisbury, open to Salisbury residents who join the Lake Salisbury Association ($245 a year). Members can swim, paddle board, fish, and take out canoes and kayaks (no gas motors). Lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Lake Patrick Henry, the smaller lake, is only for homes along its shore.
• Wishing Well Park, a neighborhood park that opened in 2006 and hosts neighborhood events.
• Salisbury Country Club, for members: 27 holes of golf, tennis and pickleball, and a pool.
• Mid-Lothian Mines Park, the 44-acre county park on the old coal mine site.
• The village of Midlothian along Midlothian Turnpike, with local shops and restaurants.

Here's the order I walk buyers through:

1. Start with the commute. Drive it on a weekday morning. If it doesn't work, nothing else matters.
2. Decide how you feel about older homes. A 1970s house with mature trees and a big lot is a different purchase than a 2024 build with a warranty. Neither is better. They're different.
3. Price the full monthly cost. Mortgage, county taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, and club dues if you want them.
4. Walk the street, not just the house. Look at the lot, the slope, the drainage, and the trees near the roof.
5. Ask about sewer or septic. About a third of Salisbury homes aren't on public sewer. If the home has a septic system, ask for its records and get it inspected.
6. Get a thorough inspection. On older homes, plan on it. Here's what really happens during a home inspection in Virginia.
7. Compare it to one newer neighborhood. Seeing both side by side makes the choice clearer fast.

• Assuming the country club comes with the house. It doesn't. Club membership is separate.
• Assuming every home gets both lakes. Lake Salisbury takes a separate yearly membership. Lake Patrick Henry is only for homes on its shore.
• Skipping the covenants because HOA dues are voluntary. The dues are optional. The covenants aren't.
• Pricing only the mortgage. County taxes on a Midlothian home are real money. Run the numbers above.
• Not asking about septic. A home without public sewer isn't a problem. Not knowing about it until after closing is.
• Skipping the tree check. Mature trees are why people love Salisbury. They're also worth a look at roofs, gutters, and foundations.
• Treating every Midlothian address the same. A 23113 address can be a 1960s neighborhood or a brand-new community. Ask which one you're looking at.
• Deciding from a screen. Photos don't show the curve of the road, the slope of the yard, or how long the drive really takes.

These are examples, not real clients.

Moving from out of state. Say you're relocating for a job in Richmond and you've never seen Midlothian. You've got a weekend. I'd put your commute drive first, then two Salisbury homes and one newer community, so you're comparing real options instead of photos.

Moving up. Say you own a smaller home in Chesterfield and want more space and more trees. Salisbury's older homes can offer bigger lots at a different price than new construction. The trade is age and updates. We'd look at both and price the updates before you make an offer.

Selling a longtime Salisbury home. Say you've been in the same house for 30 years. Buyers will compare your home to updated ones down the street. A pre-listing plan helps you decide what's worth fixing before you list. Start with the pre-listing inspection.

Is Salisbury in Midlothian or Richmond?

Salisbury is in Midlothian, in Chesterfield County, south of the James River and southwest of downtown Richmond. It isn't inside the city of Richmond.

Is Midlothian Southside or the West End?

Southside. Around Richmond, south of the James River is Southside, and that includes Midlothian and Salisbury. The West End is across the river, in Henrico County and the western part of the city.

What ZIP code is Salisbury?

Salisbury addresses use Midlothian, VA 23113.

When was Salisbury built?

The Salisbury Corporation bought the land in 1956 and started building the subdivision in 1958. Most homes went up in the 1970s and 1980s.

How many homes are in Salisbury?

About 1,600, according to the Salisbury Homeowners Association.

How much do homes in Salisbury cost?

County records show 57 sales over the last 12 months, with a middle price of about $826,000 and a range of about $539,000 to $2.6 million.

How big are the lots in Salisbury?

Most are about three-quarters of an acre to just over an acre, based on Chesterfield County parcel maps.

Are Salisbury homes on public sewer?

Most are, but about a third aren't, according to Chesterfield County property records. Those homes usually have septic systems. Check the specific home.

Does Salisbury have an HOA?

Yes, the Salisbury Homeowners Association. Dues are voluntary, $125 a year. The recorded covenants and restrictions apply to every home either way.

Can residents use the lakes?

Salisbury residents can join the Lake Salisbury Association for $245 a year. Lake Patrick Henry is only for homes along its shore.

What is the property tax rate in Midlothian?

Midlothian is in Chesterfield County. The 2026 county rate is $0.89 per $100 of assessed value.

What is Midlothian known for historically?

The first commercially mined coal in America. You can see the old mine site at Mid-Lothian Mines Park.

How long does it take to sell a home in Midlothian?

It depends on price, condition, and season. Here's how long it takes to sell a house in Midlothian in 2026.

I grew up here, raised my daughter a few miles away in Settlers Landing, and I still live close by. If you're weighing Salisbury against somewhere else, I'll walk you through the real trade-offs, including the ones that point you somewhere else.

Send me the neighborhoods you're comparing and the commute you'd be making. I'll tell you what I'd look at first. Call or text me at (804) 381-1628.

About the author: Christine Case is a REALTOR® with NextHome Advantage in Midlothian, Virginia, helping buyers and sellers in Chesterfield County and Metro Richmond make real estate decisions with real guidance instead of sales pressure. She grew up in Salisbury and still lives less than two miles away.

Sources: Chesterfield County property records (parcel data, 2026 assessment year) and real estate tax rate; Salisbury Homeowners Association, including its pages on Lake Salisbury and Lake Patrick Henry; Salisbury Country Club; Mid-Lothian Mines and Railroad Foundation. Checked September 2026.

Weighing a move in Midlothian, Chesterfield County or Metro Richmond? I'm Christine Case, a REALTOR® with NextHome Advantage, and I would rather help you understand your options than rush you into anything. Start with what living in Midlothian is really like, browse more straight answers on the blog, or send me your question and I'll answer it myself.