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Living in
Charlottesville.
About
Life in Charlottesville
Charlottesville offers a manageable small-city feel with real cultural amenities—a thriving downtown mall, indie music scene (Dave Matthews Band originated here), theater, and a calendar full of festivals. The University of Virginia shapes daily life significantly: it brings 20,000+ students during the academic year, creates a younger demographic, and anchors the economy alongside healthcare and government research jobs. Housing costs are moderate compared to Northern Virginia, with median home values around $487,000 and median rent at $1,540, though you should know that 82% of employed Charlottesville residents actually commute in from surrounding areas, and 51% of people who live here commute out for work—the job-residence balance is a real consideration.
Charlottesville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Foreign-Born
10.6%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
-4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.6% foreign-born, most often from Afghanistan
Who lives in Charlottesville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Charlottesville, the largest foreign-born group is from Afghanistan (10.2%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.5%
of residents
65 and Older
13.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
31.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for VA
Rent, home values, and income in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, home values are 27% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,915
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $511,398 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below VA average
Unemployment in Charlottesville
Unemployment in Charlottesville is 0.5 percentage points lower than the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Charlottesville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17 min avg
How Charlottesville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Charlottesville, most residents drive alone to work (53%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO)
Regional airport · few flights355k passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 16% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Charlottesville runs 16% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
276.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,810.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Charlottesville Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
24.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Charlottesville County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Charlottesville, the most common type is winter weather, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Winter Weather | $8,000 |
| 2024 | 3 | Winter Weather | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 12 | Dense Fog | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Dense Fog | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 15 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Dense Fog | $6,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Charlottesville city, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Albemarle County, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 4 miles from Charlottesville) is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
69
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Albemarle County, VA (4 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Charlottesville has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.5"
Annual Snowfall
17.0"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
78
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 28°F | 3.42" |
| Feb | 49°F | 30°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 57°F | 36°F | 3.96" |
| Apr | 68°F | 46°F | 3.48" |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 4.63" |
| Jun | 83°F | 64°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.84" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 79°F | 60°F | 5.21" |
| Oct | 69°F | 49°F | 3.92" |
| Nov | 58°F | 39°F | 3.65" |
| Dec | 48°F | 32°F | 3.75" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Charlottesville
Charlottesville has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
University of Virginia Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Charlottesville
Charlottesville's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 62.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Green Springs, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Charlottesville
Charlottesville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Green Springs (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Green Springs
National Park Site
16 mi awayShenandoah National Park
National Park
31 mi awayAppomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
58 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayCedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayPrince William Forest Park
Park
70 mi awayManassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Charlottesville
Central Library
201 East Market St., Charlottesville
Gordon Avenue Library
1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville
Cities Near Charlottesville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Charlottesville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Charlottesville FAQ
Is Charlottesville, Virginia affordable?⌄
Charlottesville's median rent is $1,540/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $74,824/year. Median home value is $486,700.
Is Charlottesville, Virginia safe?⌄
Charlottesville's violent crime rate was 277 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2810 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Charlottesville, Virginia?⌄
Charlottesville has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Charlottesville, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Charlottesville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,540/month and median household income is $74,824/year. The median home value is $486,700. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Charlottesville, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Charlottesville is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from