How much does it cost to rent in Charlottesville, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Charlottesville, VA is $2,021. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Charlottesville cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Charlottesville falls in the middle range for Virginia, ranking #49 out of 83 cities at $2,021/mo.

When was Charlottesville rent data last updated?

Charlottesville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Charlottesville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Charlottesville, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 45,437·49th most expensive in Virginia·Charlottesville rents are up 7.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,021/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.2%

vs US Median

+$56

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Charlottesville · $2,021

More expensive than 60% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% below what Charlottesville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,021/mo

Expected by trend

$2,062/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Charlottesville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,488

1 BR

$1,573

2 BR

$1,830

3 BR

$2,283

4 BR+

$2,775

Research median

$1,830/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$24,252/yr

At $2,021/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (7.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.6% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

45,437

Median income

$74,824

Median age

33.1

Renters

55.8%

Age distribution

16.5%

36.7%

23.8%

13.5%

Under 1816.5%

18–3436.7%

35–5423.8%

55–649.6%

65+13.5%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

66.5%

15.6%

White66.5%

Black15.6%

Hispanic6.9%

Asian7.1%

Other3.9%

Education (25+)

15%

16.1%

62.5%

No HS diploma6.5%

HS diploma15%

Some college16.1%

Bachelor's+62.5%

Housing tenure

44.2%

55.8%

Owner44.2%

Renter55.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Charlottesville, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,495 → $2,021

up 35.2%

Income

$63,470 → $74,824

up 17.9%

Population

46,597 → 45,437

down 2.5%

Renter share

58.7% → 55.8%

-2.9 pts

Bachelor's+

58% → 62.5%

+4.5 pts

Median age

32.5 → 33.1

+0.6 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Charlottesville, VA paid around $1,495 a month. That figure now sits near $2,021, up 35.2% 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.

Community

Discussions about Charlottesville

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View Charlottesville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Charlottesville on your salary?

At $2,021/mo, how Charlottesville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 35.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 17.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 13.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 37.9% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 41.9% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 34% income

stretched

By apartment size

Charlottesville rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Charlottesville. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Charlottesville

About renting in Charlottesville, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Charlottesville is $2,021/mo as of July 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 32% of local median household income ($74,824/yr), Charlottesville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Charlottesville an affordable city for renters?

Charlottesville is considered moderate for renters. At $2,021/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($74,824/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Charlottesville slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Charlottesville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (~$39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,021/mo in Charlottesville. The local median household income is $74,824/yr, meaning the typical Charlottesville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Charlottesville?

Rent in Charlottesville has increased 7.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Charlottesville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Charlottesville are 22901 ($1,885/mo), 22903 ($2,067/mo), and 22902 ($2,089/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Charlottesville is $2,021/mo.

How does Charlottesville rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Charlottesville is middle-of-the-pack for Virginia for rent, ranking #49 out of 83 tracked cities at $2,021/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Charlottesville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Charlottesville ($2,021/mo): Staunton ($1,581/mo), Waynesboro ($1,602/mo), Fishersville ($1,795/mo).

What percentage of Charlottesville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.8% of Charlottesville households are renters, while 44.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Charlottesville has a strong rental market.

How does Charlottesville rent compare to the national average?

Charlottesville's median rent of $2,021/mo is $56 (3%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #49 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $2,021/mo, rent takes ~32% of Charlottesville's median household income ($74,824/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Charlottesville 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Charlottesville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities