The Town FilesRivanna, Virginia
Community in Albemarle County · population 2,174 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $852,400
- Household income
- $146,328
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 58.0
Rivanna is a community of 2,174 people in Albemarle County, Virginia. The median home is worth $852,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Virginia towns, quieter than 86% of Virginia towns, more upscale than 84% of Virginia towns.
How Rivanna 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 Rivanna is worth $852,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $146,328, which is more affordable than 5% of Virginia towns. 96.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rivanna | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $852,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $146,328 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rivanna
| People | Rivanna | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Rivanna
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 25.9°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rivanna 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 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 25, 2022.
Severe weather in Albemarle County since 1996
Albemarle County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Albemarle County
Albemarle County had 64,815 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,866 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Rivanna itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Towns near Rivanna
- Pantops, VA4.4 mi · 4,682 people · home $522,900
- Lake Monticello, VA5.8 mi · 10,126 people · home $325,900
- Charlottesville, VA6.5 mi · 46,553 people · home $486,700
- Rio, VA7.8 mi · 2,076 people · home —
- University of Virginia, VA8.2 mi · 7,909 people · home $442,600
- Hollymead, VA9.3 mi · 8,601 people · home $435,300
- Piney Mountain, VA11.7 mi · 1,880 people · home $296,000
- Earlysville, VA12.0 mi · 1,153 people · home $478,400
Rivanna questions
Is Rivanna, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rivanna scores better for retirees than 99% of Virginia towns and quieter than 86%. 39.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.0).
How much does a house cost in Rivanna?
The median owner-occupied home in Rivanna is valued at $852,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $146,328, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Rivanna?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 25.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 15.6 inches of snow.
Does Rivanna get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rivanna 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)