Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 25% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
12%
Avg Rent
$1,763
Population
44,822
Renter Mix
62% Rent
Located in central Virginia, Charlottesville combines historical significance with contemporary appeal. As home to the University of Virginia, established by Thomas Jefferson, the city centers around the Downtown Mall, an eight-block outdoor pedestrian area lined with shops and restaurants. The rental market offers diverse options, with average rents ranging from $1,182 for studios to $2,548 for four-bedroom homes, reflecting a 4.5% year-over-year increase. Notable areas include the Rugby Road neighborhood near UVA's Grounds, the West Main Street area, and Belmont, each featuring a selection of newer apartment communities and restored historic properties.
The city showcases its heritage through Monticello and the University's Rotunda, both designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate access to Shenandoah National Park and local green spaces like McIntire Park and Riverview Park. Throughout the year, residents enjoy cultural events at the Jefferson Theater and John Paul Jones Arena, along with annual celebrations including the Virginia Film Festival. With convenient access to local farmers' markets and an established arts scene, Charlottesville offers a comfortable living environment that honors its past while embracing contemporary conveniences.
An open-air cafe in Charlottesville
Monticello was designed by Thomas Jefferson
Hiking trail at Monticello
Median Household Income
$67,600
Average: $98,906
Education
20,577
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
22,694
Workers Employed
Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 25% of Residents
Under 20
22%
Over 65
12%
Housing Distribution
Charlottesville has more renters than homeowners.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Charlottesville, VA is $1,331 for a studio, $1,732 for one bedroom, $1,979 for two bedrooms, and $2,263 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Charlottesville has increased by 0.3% in the past year.
The cost of living in Charlottesville, VA is 0.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Charlottesville is 1.5% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,331 - $2,263. You can expect to pay 1.7% less for groceries, 0.6% more for utilities, and 5.6% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Charlottesville, VA is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Limited Public Transit
Transit
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades K-5
343 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
282 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
740 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
352 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
752 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
513 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
192 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
586 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
581 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
339 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,229 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
192 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,359 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,987 Students
Charlottesville-Albemarle Tech
Public
Grades K-12
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
3,490
Communities
960,174
Units
891
Cities
21
Communities
2,878
Units
17
Cities
14
Communities
3,556
Units
9
Cities
101
Communities
20,304
Units
42
Cities
23
Communities
5,230
Units
13
Cities
52
Communities
10,873
Units
39
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.