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Buying a home in Charlottesville city, Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Charlottesville city is worth about $486,700, 27% above the Virginia median of $383,700 and 46% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,915 a year in property taxes, about 0.80% of their home's value, higher than the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $74,824 a year, so the median home costs 6.5 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 44% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Charlottesville city at a glance

Charlottesville city Virginia U.S.
Median home value $486,700 $383,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,915 $2,790 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.80% 0.73% 0.94%
Median household income $74,824 $93,170 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 44% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,214 $2,127 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.8% 20.1% 21.0%
Median rent $1,540 $1,579 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.5% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1984 1980
Vacant homes 8.3% 8.7% 10.1%
Population 45,437 8,705,170 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Charlottesville city

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Charlottesville city home of $486,700 with 20% down costs about $3,147 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,957, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $134,850 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 50% of the median Charlottesville city household income of $74,824; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $270,000.

The median rent here is $1,540 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,607 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$97,340
Loan amount$389,360
Principal and interest$2,619
Property taxes (0.80% a year)$324
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$203
PMI$0
Total per month$3,147

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$17,034
Loan amount$477,885
Principal and interest$3,215
Property taxes (0.80% a year)$324
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$203
FHA mortgage insurance$215
Total per month$3,957

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Questions about home buying in Charlottesville city

What is the median home value in Charlottesville city?

About $486,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Charlottesville city?

Homeowners pay a median $3,915 a year, which is about 0.80% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Charlottesville city?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,147 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $134,850 a year.

More about Charlottesville city

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data