Cost to Own
United States › Virginia › Albemarle County › Rivanna Population 2,258 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,620 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Albemarle County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Rivanna, Virginia

A $787,000 home here costs

$5,911

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $253,500 a year.

P&I 73%Tax 9%Insurance 3%Utilities 4%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,291. The real number is $1,620 higher every month, 38% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Albemarle County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Rivanna from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,258 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Albemarle County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Rivanna median: $787,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
VA 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, $629,600 borrowed $4,291
Property tax0.794% effective rate for Rivanna itself $521
Homeowners insuranceVirginia averages $1,199/yr (NAIC), or 0.295% of home value $193
Electricity17.64¢/kWh, Virginia residential average, EIA $182
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $656
Total monthly $5,911

Rivanna against Albemarle County and Virginia

MeasureRivannaAlbemarle County
Median home value$787,300$471,000
Median property tax$6,255$3,482
Effective tax rate0.794%0.739%
Median gross rent—$1,623
Population2,258113,683

The weather behind that power bill

Rivanna sits in Albemarle County, which averages a high of 87.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 27.7°F in its coldest, with 48.53" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,341 cooling and 4,109 heating degree days, which is what sets the $182 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Albemarle County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Albemarle County

Full Albemarle County cost breakdown · Every county in Virginia

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Rivanna averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Rivanna every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Rivanna I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $787,000 home in Rivanna, Virginia costs approximately $5,911 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,291 principal and interest, $521 property tax, $193 homeowners insurance, $250 utilities and $656 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Rivanna?

Rivanna has an effective property tax rate of 0.794%, based on a median home value of $787,300 and median real estate taxes of $6,255. That is higher than the Albemarle County average of 0.739%.

What is the average home price in Rivanna?

The median owner-occupied home value in Rivanna, Virginia is $787,300, against $471,000 across Albemarle County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rivanna?

Rent data is not published for Rivanna at this level of detail.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Rivanna?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rivanna, Virginia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $253,500 a year. That covers the full $5,911 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rivanna, 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