CountyScore

Charlottesville city

Virginia · VA

#109 in Virginia
65.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Charlottesville city, Virginia

Charlottesville trails national livability average

Charlottesville's composite score of 61.6 falls below the national median of 50.0 by 23%, making it the weakest performer in this Virginia cohort. Rising housing costs and higher taxes pressure the city's overall livability profile despite moderate incomes.

Significantly below Virginia state average

Charlottesville's score of 61.6 lags Virginia's state average of 70.3 by more than 12%, placing it in the lower half of Commonwealth livability rankings. The city's cost structure diverges notably from rural Virginia peers.

Moderate incomes support urban amenities

Charlottesville achieves an income score of 29.0 with median household income of $69,829, supporting the urban lifestyle. The tax score of 79.4 provides reasonable tax relief despite the city's higher effective rate of 0.814%.

Housing costs drive down affordability score

The cost score of 56.4 is by far the lowest in this group, with median rent at $1,453 and median home values of $448,400—more than triple rural counties. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable.

Suits affluent professionals valuing urban culture

Charlottesville appeals to higher-income professionals and academics willing to pay premium urban prices for walkability, cultural amenities, and institutional resources. The city's composite score reflects cost burdens that outweigh tax and income advantages, making it less livable by this measure than comparable Virginia alternatives.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax79.4Cost56.4SafetyComing SoonHealth72.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome29Risk75.7WaterComing Soon
🏛79.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠56.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡75.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Charlottesville city with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Mississippi County
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Bulloch County
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Marshall County
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Median income: $69,818

Deep Dives

Charlottesville city across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Charlottesville city

via TaxByCounty

Charlottesville taxes well above average

At 0.814%, Charlottesville's effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 0.83%, placing it in the upper half nationally. The median property tax of $3,649 is 36% higher than the national median of $2,690.

Virginia's highest taxing jurisdiction here

Charlottesville's 0.814% rate is the highest among the eight profiled counties and well above Virginia's state average of 0.671%. The city demands substantially more property tax than typical Virginia residents pay.

Far steeper taxes than surrounding areas

Charlottesville's $3,649 median tax dwarfs nearby Caroline ($1,585) and Buena Vista ($1,444), with a median home value of $448,400 that reflects the city's affluence. The city's 0.814% rate is the highest in the entire region.

What your taxes look like here

On Charlottesville's median home value of $448,400, you'd pay approximately $3,649 annually in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages typically pay $3,685, while those owning outright pay around $3,585.

High taxes demand careful assessment review

With Charlottesville's premium tax rate and high home values, ensuring accurate assessment is critical to controlling your tax bill. Property owners should meticulously compare their assessed value to recent comparable sales and appeal aggressively if overassessed.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Charlottesville city

via CostByCounty

Charlottesville's housing crisis strains residents

Charlottesville City's 25% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the nation's highest affordability crises, exceeding Virginia's state average by 35% despite earning $69,829 annually. Renters and buyers here face the region's most severe housing cost burden.

Virginia's most expensive and least affordable city

Charlottesville ranks dead last in Virginia for affordability, with a rent-to-income ratio of 25% and median home values of $448,400—the state's highest. The city's housing market prices out all but the wealthiest residents.

Triple the rent, double the home prices

Charlottesville's $1,453 rent nearly doubles Campbell County's $853 and quadruples Carroll's $687, while $448,400 median homes cost 2.2 times Caroline County's $283,100. The city operates in an entirely different economic universe from surrounding counties.

Quarter of income vanishes to housing costs

Charlottesville renters earning $69,829 devote a severe 25% to $1,453 monthly rent, while owner-occupants spend 28.5% on $1,661 mortgage payments. Both renting and buying consume an outsized share of household budgets here.

Charlottesville for the affluent or relocate

Only households earning $100,000+ comfortably absorb Charlottesville's $1,453 rents and $448,400 home prices; others should compare to nearby Campbell County ($853 rent) or Carroll County ($687 rent) for 50% cost savings. The city's amenities demand premium pricing most relocators cannot justify.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Charlottesville city

via IncomeByCounty

Charlottesville moderately below national income

Charlottesville's median household income of $69,829 trails the national median of $74,755 by 7%. The city's above-average per capita income of $48,395 reflects a diverse workforce anchored by the University of Virginia and professional services.

Below Virginia average but affluent core

Charlottesville's $69,829 median household income is about $5,000 below Virginia's average of $74,957. However, the per capita income of $48,395 significantly exceeds Virginia's $39,155, indicating concentrations of highly educated, high-earning professionals.

Mid-range income in regional context

Charlottesville's $69,829 median falls between Campbell County ($62,608) and Caroline County ($86,267). The city earns substantially more than Charlotte ($48,892) and Buena Vista ($54,458), reflecting its role as a regional economic hub.

Housing costs strain even strong incomes

Charlottesville's rent-to-income ratio of 25.0% approaches the alert threshold, indicating housing costs consume one-quarter of median income. The median home value of $448,400 is nearly triple the state average, reflecting gentrification and university-driven demand.

Navigate high costs with smart planning

Charlottesville's high housing costs challenge even above-average earners, but the city's educated workforce has strong income-growth potential. Focus on negotiating competitive salaries, exploring employer benefits and stock options, and seeking creative housing solutions like co-investments or shared ownership models.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Charlottesville city

via HealthByCounty

Charlottesville leads in health and longevity

Charlottesville residents enjoy a life expectancy of 78.3 years, approaching the U.S. average of 79.3 years and placing the city among America's healthier communities. Only 18.6% report poor or fair health, well below national medians, reflecting strong overall population wellness.

Virginia's healthiest community surveyed

Charlottesville's 78.3-year life expectancy far exceeds Virginia's 75.1-year average by over 3 years, making it the state's healthiest jurisdiction in this analysis. The city's 18.6% poor/fair health rate ties the state's best performers, demonstrating exceptional health management and outcomes.

Dramatically outpaces surrounding counties

Charlottesville's 78.3-year life expectancy surpasses every neighboring county by 2-7 years, with Campbell (76.5 years) as the closest peer. Its 8.0% uninsured rate matches the state average despite the city's superior healthcare infrastructure and wealth.

Exceptional healthcare infrastructure nationwide

Charlottesville has 285 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and an extraordinary 1,198 mental health providers per 100,000—among the highest densities in America. This concentration, likely driven by the University of Virginia's medical complex, creates unparalleled access to comprehensive care.

Leverage Charlottesville's exceptional care

Even with lower uninsured rates, Charlottesville residents should maintain continuous coverage to fully benefit from the city's exceptional healthcare resources. Visit healthcare.gov to ensure your plan keeps you connected to these world-class providers and services.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Charlottesville city

via RiskByCounty

Charlottesville's risk approaches national norm

Charlottesville city's composite risk score of 24.33 and Very Low rating sit slightly below the national average, reflecting moderate natural disaster exposure typical of many American cities. The city's hazard profile mixes low wildfire risk with elevated earthquake and hurricane concerns.

Slightly below Virginia's average risk

Charlottesville city's composite score of 24.33 falls modestly below Virginia's state average of 33.27, placing it among the commonwealth's lower-risk jurisdictions. The city benefits from topography and climate that moderate most hazard exposures relative to state peers.

More exposed than western peer counties

Charlottesville city's risk score of 24.33 exceeds nearby Buckingham County (18.96), Charlotte County (17.37), and Charles City County (9.32) but trails Campbell County (32.00). Its exceptionally low wildfire risk at 0.32 stands apart, distinguishing it among the safest communities for this particular hazard.

Earthquake and hurricane dominate exposure

Charlottesville city faces its highest hazard exposure through earthquakes at 70.87 and hurricanes at 69.46, with flooding at 33.27 representing a secondary concern. Tornado risk at 24.30 remains moderate, while the city benefits from exceptionally low wildfire risk at just 0.32.

Earthquake coverage and storm prep matter most

Homeowners should consider supplemental earthquake insurance given the city's 70.87 earthquake score, and prepare for hurricanes through roof inspections and tree management. Obtain flood insurance for properties in flood zones, and maintain standard homeowners coverage to address tornado and wind risks.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.