Cost to Own
United StatesVirginiaCharlottesville cityCharlottesville Population 45,863 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Charlottesville, Virginia

A $448,000 home here costs

$3,317

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,303. The real number is $1,014 higher every month — 44% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Charlottesville median: $448,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $358,400 borrowed $2,303
Property tax0.814% effective rate for Charlottesville itself $304
Homeowners insuranceVirginia averages $1,199/yr (NAIC), or 0.295% of home value $110
Electricity17.61¢/kWh — Virginia residential average, EIA $158
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $373
Total monthly $3,317

Charlottesville against Charlottesville city and Virginia

MeasureCharlottesvilleCharlottesville city
Median home value$448,400$448,400
Median property tax$3,649$3,649
Effective tax rate0.814%0.814%
Median gross rent$1,453$1,453
Population45,86345,863

The weather behind that power bill

Charlottesville sits in Charlottesville city, which averages a high of 83.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 28.1°F in its coldest, with 48.18" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,110 cooling and 4,239 heating degree days, which is what sets the $158 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Charlottesville city — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Charlottesville city

No other places of this size are published in Charlottesville city.

Full Charlottesville city cost breakdown · Every county in Virginia

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Charlottesville?

A $448,000 home in Charlottesville, Virginia costs approximately $3,317 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,303 principal and interest, $304 property tax, $110 homeowners insurance, $226 utilities and $373 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Charlottesville?

Charlottesville has an effective property tax rate of 0.814%, based on a median home value of $448,400 and median real estate taxes of $3,649. That is in line with the Charlottesville city average of 0.814%.

What is the average home price in Charlottesville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Charlottesville, Virginia is $448,400, against $448,400 across Charlottesville city.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Charlottesville?

Median gross rent in Charlottesville is $1,453 a month, against $3,317 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Charlottesville — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Virginia.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology