The Town FilesCharlottesville, Virginia
City in Charlottesville city · population 46,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $486,700
- Household income
- $74,824
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 33.1
Charlottesville is a city of 46,553 people in Charlottesville city, Virginia. The median home is worth $486,700, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 100% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 100% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 98% of Virginia towns.
How Charlottesville ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charlottesville is worth $486,700, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $74,824, which is more affordable than 2% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,540 a month. 44.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlottesville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $486,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,540 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $74,824 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Charlottesville
| People | Charlottesville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Charlottesville
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlottesville since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 30, 1959 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 4, 2002.
Severe weather in Charlottesville city since 1996
Charlottesville city has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Charlottesville city
Charlottesville city had 36,641 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,984 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Charlottesville itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Charlottesville
31 public schools with 14,277 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle High | 9-12 | 2,005 | 15.2 |
| Charlottesville High | 9-12 | 1,405 | 12.9 |
| Monticello High | 9-12 | 1,204 | 13.8 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 756 | 12.0 |
| Baker-Butler Elem | PK-5 | 735 | 13.6 |
| Journey Middle | 6-8 | 607 | 13.2 |
| Walker Upper Elementary | 5-6 | 604 | 12.9 |
| Buford Middle | 7-8 | 559 | 10.5 |
| Jackson P. Burley Middle | 6-8 | 551 | 12.2 |
| Woodbrook Elementary | PK-5 | 525 | 9.9 |
| Lakeside Middle | 6-8 | 520 | 14.1 |
| Mary Carr Greer Elementary | PK-5 | 496 | 10.8 |
Towns near Charlottesville
- University of Virginia, VA1.9 mi · 7,909 people · home $442,600
- Pantops, VA2.2 mi · 4,682 people · home $522,900
- Hollymead, VA6.4 mi · 8,601 people · home $435,300
- Lake Monticello, VA11.7 mi · 10,126 people · home $325,900
- Crozet, VA11.7 mi · 9,224 people · home $547,200
- Waynesboro, VA22.7 mi · 22,196 people · home $245,500
- Grottoes, VA24.5 mi · 2,899 people · home $275,700
- Orange, VA24.9 mi · 4,880 people · home $273,300
Charlottesville questions
Is Charlottesville, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlottesville scores better for retirees than 23% of Virginia towns and quieter than 11%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Charlottesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlottesville is valued at $486,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,824, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $1,540 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlottesville?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.0 inches of snow.
Does Charlottesville get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlottesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 30, 1959. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)