Population 45,437 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Charlottesville City
Household size in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Charlottesville City is a place of small households, averaging 2.17 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.26 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only five have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.9 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.9 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.7, Charlottesville City is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 32.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Virginia counties are younger: only seven of 133.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Charlottesville City (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Charlottesville City
Renters in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.7% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.4% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 55.8% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Charlottesville City: 55.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than a third of owners (35.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only nine of Virginia's 133 counties have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Charlottesville City is close to the national rate: 9.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Compared with other Virginia counties, Charlottesville City has a lower vacancy rate than most.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Charlottesville City is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $911 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,079 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,131 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,595 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$683 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Charlottesville City pays $1,595 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Virginia overall ($1,743). Rents are up $683 a month from 2006–10, a 75% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 35.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Charlottesville City
Bachelor's degrees in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.8% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 50.3% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.8% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.5% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Charlottesville City: 62.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 15.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only five have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.1% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Charlottesville City is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.4 points, in line with the national trend. Charlottesville City has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Virginia counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Charlottesville City
| Period | Charlottesville City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Charlottesville City than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Charlottesville City compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville City | 2.17 | 34.7 | 9.4% | 55.8% | 9.4% | 1971 | $1,595 | 62.5% | 93.4% | 4.0% |
| Albemarle County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 9.7% | 34.1% | 7.7% | 1991 | $1,734 | 61.3% | 94.0% | 3.3% |
| Waynesboro City | 2.32 | 38.8 | 13.0% | 40.1% | 8.3% | 1973 | $1,105 | 26.4% | 89.5% | 4.9% |
| Louisa County | 2.60 | 44.9 | 10.1% | 17.8% | 14.8% | 1995 | $1,329 | 29.6% | 90.0% | 5.7% |
| Augusta County | 2.46 | 44.5 | 9.0% | 19.8% | 7.2% | 1987 | $1,131 | 25.1% | 91.8% | 2.4% |
| Staunton City | 2.17 | 41.6 | 12.0% | 39.1% | 10.0% | 1963 | $1,005 | 37.7% | 94.1% | 5.1% |
| Caroline County | 2.66 | 39.7 | 14.9% | 17.7% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,417 | 21.6% | 89.2% | 4.8% |
| Bath County | 2.16 | 52.2 | 9.7% | 28.7% | 43.0% | 1974 | $653 | 16.4% | 84.6% | 1.2% |
| Essex County | 2.35 | 47.9 | 7.8% | 28.3% | 21.8% | 1980 | $1,056 | 16.8% | 84.3% | 3.5% |
| Westmoreland County | 2.35 | 48.9 | 15.8% | 19.9% | 25.0% | 1985 | $1,163 | 22.8% | 87.7% | 5.9% |
| Richmond County | 2.38 | 44.1 | 9.2% | 25.3% | 16.4% | 1979 | $1,038 | 16.4% | 81.6% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Harrison County, IN · Hancock County, ME · Warren County, IA · Warren County, MS · Warren County, PA · Murray County, GA · Chilton County, AL · Chesterfield County, SC · Cherokee County, TX · Cherokee County, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Charlottesville City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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