Below Average CostNear National AverageAlbemarle County Public Schools
Charlottesville Downtown Mall · Wcedmisten / CC BY 4.0Monticellofromgardens · Queerbubbles / CC BY-SA 3.0Court Square · Jhb 10s (talk) / Public domainSNL Financial, Charlottesville, VA IMG 4213 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY 3.0
Charlottesville is a small city of 46,289 in Virginia, with a median household income of $67,177
and a 5.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is
1% below the national average.
Strengths:
Charlottesville stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Charlottesville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Charlottesville city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.6
Charlottesville's overall cost of living index is 98.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Charlottesville costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.
Metric
Charlottesville, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$398,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,357
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
42.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,177
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Charlottesville's violent crime rate is 359.0 per 100,000 residents
— 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
359.0 /100k
Property Crime
3191.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Charlottesville is served primarily by Albemarle County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Charlottesville, VA
National Avg
School District
Albemarle County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
15
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
58.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Charlottesville sees average highs of 44.7°F in January
and 87.4°F in July,
with 48.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.0 inches of snow per year.
Charlottesville's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Charlottesville roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $398,400 and median rent is $1,357/month.
Charlottesville's violent crime rate is 359.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3191.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Charlottesville are operated by Albemarle County Public Schools.
The district has 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 58.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Charlottesville, VA has a population of 46,289, a median household income of $67,177, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Charlottesville averages 44.7°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.5 inches
with about 17.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Charlottesville, VA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 22903, 22901, 22902, 22908.
The population of Charlottesville, Virginia is 46,289 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Charlottesville: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $398,400, median household income $67,177, crime index 117 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Charlottesville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
