Moving to
Charlottesville.

All Charlottesville data Compare Charlottesville

45,437people live here $74,824median household incomeNear US average $1,540median rent per monthNear US average $486,700median home value▲ 46% above US

What it's like to live in Charlottesville

Charlottesville is a small city in Virginia with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.

The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Charlottesville deals with home prices well above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.

The good

Low unemployment
Short commutes
Highly educated workforce
Low student-teacher ratio

The not so good

High home prices
Shrinking population
High poverty rate
High rent burden for renters
Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options

How Charlottesville compares

Median household income

Charlottesville$74,824

Virginia avg$93,170

US$80,734

Median rent (per month)

Charlottesville$1,540

Virginia avg$1,579

US$1,413

Median home value

Charlottesville$486,700

Virginia avg$383,700

US$332,700

What it takes to move to Charlottesville

Based on Charlottesville's median rent, home value and household income

To rent

$3,080

up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit

Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,600 a year
53% of Charlottesville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent

To buy

$97,340

a 20% down payment on the median home

With 10% down: $48,670
Homes cost 6.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)

Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.

The details

Cost of livingNear US average

$1,540/mo median rent

Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,540 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $486,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.

Median home value $486,700 · 53% of renters cost-burdened

Job market▼ 33% below US

2.9% unemployment

Unemployment here is 2.9%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.

City-level (BLS)

Safety▼ 16% below US

277 violent crimes per 100k

Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.

Property crime 2810/100k · Charlottesville Police Department · 2025 data

Getting around▼ 35% below US

17 min average commute

Commutes run short here, averaging 17 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% take public transit; 21% work from home.

How workers get to work

Drive alone

53%

Work from home

21%

Walk

11%

Public transit

5.6%

Carpool

4.4%

Other

4.3%

Climate

Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

30-year averages, 1991–2020

Healthcare

2 hospitals

There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.

Medicare-certified hospitals

Education & workforce▲ 74% above US

63% bachelor's degree or higher

This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.

Schools

13 public schools inside the boundary

There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 10 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.

Parks & recreation

The nearest national park or historic site is Green Springs (16 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.

Bottom line

Charlottesville's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,540/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.

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