Charlottesville city
VA · Pop. 45,863 · Urban County
Charlottesville city, Virginia covers 10 square miles with a population of 45,863 and a density of 4586.3 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The median home price is $448,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.81%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 217-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.8°F and average winter lows of 28.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. University of Virginia Medical Center is 0.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes.
Pros
- A long 217-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.81% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- University of Virginia Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 0.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- A median home price of $448,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- A poverty rate of 22.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- At 4586.3 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Charlottesville city, VA is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 70/100
- Median home price
- $448k
- Property tax
- 0.81%
- Growing season
- 217 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.7"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- University of Virginia Medical Center, 0.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Charlottesville city: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Charlottesville city?
- Charlottesville city is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 217-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.8°F, and average winter lows of 28.5°F.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $448,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.81%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- University of Virginia Medical Center is 0.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Charlottesville city by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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