County profile · Virginia
Charlottesville city, VA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Charlottesville city, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 44,388
- −4.4% since 2020
- Households
- 19,815
- Median household income
- $74,824
- +25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $486,700
- Jobs located here
- 37,763
- Highest market score
- 70
- Veterinarians, #277 of 1,485 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Charlottesville city by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Charlottesville city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 44,388 people live in Charlottesville city, in 19,815 households. Population estimates put the population change in Charlottesville city from 2020 to 2025 at −4.4%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Charlottesville city is $74,824 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Charlottesville city spend the most on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (80).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Charlottesville city are for veterinarians (70), pet grooming and boarding businesses (64) and pet businesses (56). Charlottesville city ranks #277 of 1,485 scored counties for veterinarians.
Charlottesville city is part of the Charlottesville metro area. For its number of households, Charlottesville city has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (4.6 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for insurance agencies (38% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Charlottesville city
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Charlottesville city with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 70 | #277 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.5 | $3.8M | 140 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 64 | #369 of 1,461 | 5 | 2.5 | $3.8M | 149 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #803 of 2,200 | 19 | 9.6 | $1M | 114 | 12 |
| Insurance agencies | 56 | #896 of 2,272 | 19 | 9.6 | $2.1M | 168 | 14 |
| Roofing and gutters | 49 | #622 of 1,177 | 9 | 4.5 | $6.7M | 79 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 47 | #886 of 1,611 | 10 | 5.0 | $1.1M | 107 | 15 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #1,152 of 1,886 | 17 | 8.6 | $1.4M | 138 | 15 |
| Gas stations | 43 | #1,465 of 2,358 | 23 | 11.6 | $2.1M | 87 | 16 |
| Home repair trades | 42 | #1,411 of 2,057 | 31 | 15.6 | $1.9M | 80 | 30 |
| Chiropractors | 41 | #973 of 1,490 | 8 | 4.0 | $2.9M | 121 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 38 | #1,292 of 1,707 | 21 | 10.6 | $2.9M | 60 | 14 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 36 | #1,138 of 1,493 | 25 | 12.6 | $1.2M | 42 | 15 |
| Physical therapy | 34 | #1,121 of 1,422 | 11 | 5.6 | $2.1M | 88 | 8 |
| House cleaning | 33 | #703 of 847 | 6 | 3.0 | $5.1M | 80 | 17 |
| Nail salons | 31 | #1,128 of 1,328 | 15 | 7.6 | $1.2M | 74 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 29 | #1,234 of 1,472 | 5 | 2.5 | $382K | 56 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 29 | #1,619 of 1,771 | 35 | 17.7 | $879K | 52 | 32 |
| Convenience stores | 28 | #1,851 of 2,261 | 27 | 13.6 | $4.5M | 57 | 16 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 27 | #1,157 of 1,327 | 8 | 4.0 | $1.9M | 62 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 26 | #1,467 of 1,656 | 27 | 13.6 | $857K | 48 | 24 |
| Auto repair and car care | 26 | #2,140 of 2,401 | 71 | 35.8 | $214K | 80 | 26 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 25 | #840 of 887 | 13 | 6.6 | Index only | 61 | 4 |
| Pet stores | 24 | #864 of 974 | 7 | 3.5 | $2.7M | 60 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 24 | #1,793 of 2,070 | 22 | 11.1 | $5.5M | 60 | 21 |
| Barbershops | 23 | #1,193 of 1,356 | 16 | 8.1 | $1.2M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 23 | #1,947 of 2,090 | 28 | 14.1 | $2.8M | 55 | 92 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 23 | #2,150 of 2,402 | 64 | 32.3 | $1.9M | 56 | 37 |
| Car washes and detailing | 22 | #1,345 of 1,451 | 10 | 5.0 | $1.5M | 60 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 21 | #2,286 of 2,394 | 355 | 179.2 | $65K | 43 | 55 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 20 | #1,251 of 1,334 | 12 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 69 | 13 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 19 | #1,208 of 1,302 | 11 | 5.6 | $2.1M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 19 | #2,075 of 2,222 | 48 | 24.2 | $1.6M | 54 | 92 |
| Auto repair shops | 19 | #2,270 of 2,378 | 49 | 24.7 | $310K | 70 | 20 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 18 | #1,989 of 2,087 | 75 | 37.9 | $532K | 42 | 42 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 18 | #2,123 of 2,210 | 105 | 53.0 | $380K | 43 | 45 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 18 | #2,169 of 2,176 | 95 | 47.9 | Index only | 60 | 43 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 17 | #2,009 of 2,063 | 60 | 30.3 | $1.3M | 35 | 36 |
| Real estate | 17 | #2,223 of 2,229 | 123 | 62.1 | Index only | 58 | 95 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 17 | #2,349 of 2,405 | 584 | 294.7 | $135K | 36 | 248 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 17 | #2,359 of 2,405 | 338 | 170.6 | $233K | 35 | 120 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 16 | #1,852 of 1,889 | 56 | 28.3 | $1.4M | 34 | 36 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 15 | #2,345 of 2,385 | 166 | 83.8 | $112K | 52 | 44 |
| Gyms | 14 | #1,723 of 1,792 | 31 | 15.6 | $538K | 41 | 15 |
| Spas and skin care | 14 | #1,740 of 1,769 | 38 | 19.2 | $488K | 56 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 14 | #2,032 of 2,088 | 65 | 32.8 | $257K | 39 | 28 |
| Hair salons | 14 | #2,287 of 2,339 | 94 | 47.4 | $197K | 46 | 28 |
| Property management | 13 | #905 of 910 | 14 | 7.1 | Index only | 40 | 37 |
| Tire shops | 10 | #1,492 of 1,530 | 11 | 5.6 | $1.4M | 55 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 9 | #775 of 777 | 22 | 11.1 | $759K | 19 | 15 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | $10M | 64 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | $7.7M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $13.3M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $59.9M | Too few | 13 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $23.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Charlottesville city
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $15.2M | $768 | 80 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $47.5M | $2,395 | 92 |
| Food away from home | $78.8M | $3,979 | 98 |
| Groceries | $121.7M | $6,143 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.5M | $935 | 93 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.7M | $540 | 93 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $16.7M | $842 | 86 |
| Medical and dental services | $23.1M | $1,168 | 91 |
| Pets | $19M | $960 | 106 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $39.9M | $2,013 | 98 |
| Vehicle insurance | $40.1M | $2,023 | 103 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $59.9M | $3,024 | 100 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $30.8M | $1,552 | 110 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $311.3M | $15,709 | 94 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Charlottesville city
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 44,388−4.4% since 2020
- Households
- 19,815
- Median age
- 35.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 44%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.5
- Land area
- 10 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 4,435
- Median household income
- $74,824+25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $115,430
- Median home value
- $486,700
- Jobs located here
- 37,763
- Daytime population
- 63,939Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Charlottesville city?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Charlottesville city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
- Albemarle County, VA114,919 people
- Fluvanna County, VA28,092 people
- Greene County, VA21,155 people
- Waynesboro city, VA22,841 people
- Nelson County, VA14,732 people
- Madison County, VA14,044 people
- Louisa County, VA39,980 people
- Augusta County, VA78,033 people
Questions
How fast is Charlottesville city, VA growing?
Population estimates put Charlottesville city at 44,388 people in 2025, down 4.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 19,815 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Charlottesville city, VA spend?
Households in Charlottesville city spend about $311.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $121.7M on groceries and $78.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Charlottesville city runs highest on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (80).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Charlottesville city, VA?
Of the business types scored in Charlottesville city, veterinarians (70), pet grooming and boarding businesses (64) and pet businesses (56) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For veterinarians, that ranks #277 of 1,485 scored counties.
How does Charlottesville city, VA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Charlottesville city is $74,824, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $486,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (4.6 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for insurance agencies (38% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 49 of the 56 business types have a score in Charlottesville city, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Charlottesville city. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Charlottesville city?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Charlottesville city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.