Rents are 5% below what Charlottesville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,029 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Charlottesville usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in July, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Charlottesville is 0% below its high of $2,029 in February 2026, at $2,029 as of September 2026.
Rent in Charlottesville changed +1.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Charlottesville rose 35.4% while median household income rose 25.8% ($59,471 to $74,824). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Charlottesville is 38.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,824) is $1,871 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,830); a 3-bedroom is $2,283.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Charlottesville, 22903 ($2,370/mo), costs 37% more than the cheapest, 22901 ($1,727/mo).
Waynesboro, 20 miles away, rents for 31% less ($1,398/mo), about $7,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Charlottesville. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Charlottesville, VA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 62.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Charlottesville, VA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Charlottesville, VA paid around $1,525 a month. That figure now sits near $2,029, up 33.0% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $63,470 in 2021 to $74,824 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Charlottesville, VA losing about 1,160 residents over the five-year window, down 2.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 58.7% to 55.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 58% to 62.5% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Charlottesville, VA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Charlottesville on your salary?
At $2,029/mo, how Charlottesville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Charlottesville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Charlottesville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Charlottesville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Charlottesville is $2,029/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,488/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,830/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,573/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,283/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($74,824/yr), Charlottesville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Charlottesville?
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How does Charlottesville rent compare to other cities in Virginia?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Charlottesville?
At $2,029/mo, rent takes ~33% of Charlottesville's median household income ($74,824/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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