Well... I have been living here for almost 6 years now. As all this dirty and ghetto talk goes I can only vouch from my experience. Just like all cities they have the low income sections. Richmond has its fair share of it. If your just driving through here near the interstate then ya, you'll think bad of it. Richmond is broken into several areas (Chesterfield, Hanover, Ashland, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, ect) and I would say only about 20% of Richmond is trash. There are more suburbs then projects, as well as anything outside of downtown has wide range of great schools, great neighborhoods, ect. Ya, there is a lot of violence here (only located in the lower income areas) but living in the short-pump area, I feel comfortable to leave my house and could leave the front/rear door wide open.
Richmond is far from being full of dirt and ghetto, unless your looking to live in that area. Cost of living here is almost as the DC area and the housing market is on the flop here too.
Btw I am back from the dead - so whats up!