Population 114,897 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Charlottesville
Household size in Charlottesville
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Charlottesville are small: just 2.24 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.29 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 17 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people 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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.9 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Charlottesville is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.0, in line with the national trend.
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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Charlottesville than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Virginia. The single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as 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
Renters in Charlottesville
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.4% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 49.7% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.1% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.1% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Charlottesville than nationally: 49.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. About four in ten owners (39.3%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only 21 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people 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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Charlottesville is close to the national rate: 8.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Charlottesville are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center 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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,006 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,113 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,265 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,682 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$676 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Charlottesville runs $1,682 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $676 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the west.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Charlottesville
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.8% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.6% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.6% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Charlottesville is highly educated: just over six in ten adults 25 and older (61.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the north.
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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Charlottesville is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Charlottesville | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Charlottesville than nationally: unemployment was 3.7%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | 2.24 | 38.0 | 9.9% | 49.1% | 8.5% | 1983 | $1,682 | 61.9% | 93.3% | 3.7% |
| Ivy | 2.14 | 54.1 | 4.8% | 11.5% | 10.2% | 1997 | $1,142 | 79.0% | 97.6% | 5.0% |
| Hollymead | 2.64 | 37.8 | 8.4% | 21.6% | 1.9% | 1996 | $2,109 | 63.0% | 97.3% | 3.0% |
| Earlysville | 2.70 | 46.0 | 9.8% | 9.6% | 3.1% | 1988 | $1,681 | 64.3% | 96.2% | 2.5% |
| Keswick | 2.46 | 53.4 | 7.0% | 15.0% | 5.6% | 1996 | $1,747 | 63.1% | 95.8% | 5.5% |
| Yancey Mills | 2.25 | 46.7 | 12.0% | 21.6% | 6.0% | 1989 | $1,686 | 66.8% | 94.6% | 0.0% |
| North Garden | 2.45 | 49.6 | 5.4% | 19.2% | 6.8% | 1989 | $1,422 | 44.2% | 90.2% | 2.4% |
| Woodridge | 2.44 | 50.3 | 7.0% | 18.5% | 5.6% | 1985 | $1,206 | 37.5% | 93.1% | 0.9% |
| Batesville | 2.45 | 44.9 | 11.3% | 17.7% | 6.9% | 1988 | $1,381 | 63.8% | 94.6% | 0.5% |
| Free Union | 2.46 | 49.2 | 7.7% | 10.6% | 7.8% | 1989 | $1,566 | 65.3% | 94.6% | 1.9% |
| Burnley | 2.37 | 53.6 | 7.4% | 26.5% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,654 | 51.6% | 92.9% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sumter, SC · Tallahassee, FL · Suwanee, GA · Tacoma, WA · Tampa, FL · Stockbridge, GA · Stone Mountain, GA · Sterling Heights, MI · Stockton, CA · Stafford, VA
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. 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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