Metro area profile · Virginia
Charlottesville, VA metro area market data
How the Charlottesville metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 228,597
- +3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 90,452
- Median household income
- $93,598
- +28.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $430,300
- Jobs located here
- 108,968
- Highest market score
- 83
- Laundromats, #9 of 364 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Charlottesville metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Charlottesville metro area. 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
The Charlottesville metro area has an estimated 228,597 people and 90,452 households. Population estimates show the Charlottesville metro area grew 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Charlottesville metro area is $93,598, 16% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 28.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Charlottesville metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (96).
Of the business types scored in the Charlottesville metro area, laundromats (83), insurance agencies (83) and roofing and gutter companies (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For laundromats, that ranks #9 of 364 scored metro areas.
The Charlottesville metro area takes in 5 counties: Albemarle County, Charlottesville city, Fluvanna County, Greene County and Nelson County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (83% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for barbershops (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Charlottesville metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Charlottesville metro area with other metro areas 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 metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laundromats | 83 | #9 of 364 | 5 | 0.6 | $39.2M | 314 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | 83 | #22 of 387 | 98 | 10.8 | $2.4M | 188 | 70 |
| Roofing and gutters | 82 | #6 of 381 | 24 | 2.7 | $12.4M | 146 | 11 |
| Auto repair and car care | 81 | #6 of 387 | 210 | 23.2 | $422K | 157 | 96 |
| Auto repair shops | 80 | #8 of 387 | 130 | 14.4 | $681K | 153 | 66 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 80 | #10 of 381 | 18 | 2.0 | $4.9M | 160 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 76 | #15 of 387 | 92 | 10.2 | $3.2M | 133 | 143 |
| Barbershops | 76 | #18 of 387 | 27 | 3.0 | $3.4M | 181 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 76 | #28 of 386 | 24 | 2.7 | $3.7M | 147 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 76 | #41 of 387 | 105 | 11.6 | $3.8M | 123 | 173 |
| Electricians | 73 | #27 of 383 | 15 | 1.7 | $19.8M | 165 | 61 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 73 | #31 of 387 | 53 | 5.9 | $5.6M | 118 | 71 |
| Pizza | 73 | #43 of 387 | 63 | 7.0 | $6.3M | 123 | 173 |
| Gas stations | 72 | #51 of 387 | 83 | 9.2 | $3.3M | 138 | 76 |
| Dry cleaners | 71 | #27 of 272 | 7 | 0.8 | $28M | 179 | 8 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 67 | #62 of 386 | 28 | 3.1 | $3.4M | 134 | 22 |
| Pest control | 67 | #63 of 345 | 15 | 1.7 | $10.1M | 99 | 9 |
| House cleaning | 65 | #73 of 375 | 18 | 2.0 | $8.4M | 132 | 67 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 64 | #90 of 386 | 36 | 4.0 | $3.2M | 101 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 63 | #59 of 387 | 339 | 37.5 | $272K | 128 | 119 |
| Car washes and detailing | 63 | #98 of 387 | 31 | 3.4 | $2.9M | 113 | 14 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 63 | #107 of 387 | 190 | 21.0 | $1M | 117 | 84 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #84 of 387 | 41 | 4.5 | $2.3M | 135 | 19 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 62 | #117 of 387 | 138 | 15.3 | $1.4M | 112 | 72 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #110 of 387 | 52 | 5.7 | $1M | 104 | 54 |
| Hair salons | 60 | #99 of 387 | 180 | 19.9 | $513K | 119 | 71 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #105 of 387 | 84 | 9.3 | $1.1M | 126 | 23 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #140 of 387 | 106 | 11.7 | $901K | 103 | 69 |
| Chiropractors | 57 | #140 of 386 | 41 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 116 | 26 |
| Funeral homes | 56 | #143 of 377 | 20 | 2.2 | $686K | 101 | 12 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #184 of 387 | 95 | 10.5 | $4.2M | 100 | 68 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 50 | #180 of 387 | 40 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 106 | 40 |
| Pet stores | 50 | #188 of 382 | 21 | 2.3 | $4.5M | 101 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #196 of 387 | 110 | 12.2 | $3.6M | 97 | 64 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 49 | #190 of 387 | 110 | 12.2 | $1.4M | 82 | 192 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #209 of 387 | 83 | 9.2 | $7.1M | 90 | 37 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 48 | #212 of 387 | 183 | 20.2 | $3.2M | 95 | 84 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #217 of 387 | 65 | 7.2 | $1.8M | 99 | 151 |
| Veterinarians | 47 | #218 of 384 | 40 | 4.4 | $2.4M | 88 | 34 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 45 | #223 of 387 | 1,121 | 123.9 | $352K | 95 | 460 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 45 | #230 of 387 | 596 | 65.9 | $662K | 100 | 223 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #240 of 387 | 120 | 13.3 | $950K | 97 | 83 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #243 of 387 | 67 | 7.4 | $8.8M | 95 | 47 |
| Gyms | 43 | #261 of 387 | 76 | 8.4 | $1.1M | 87 | 38 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 42 | #238 of 385 | 77 | 8.5 | $2M | 67 | 116 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #271 of 387 | 299 | 33.1 | Index only | 93 | 137 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 39 | #274 of 373 | 45 | 5.0 | Index only | 87 | 24 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #301 of 387 | 156 | 17.2 | $550K | 83 | 78 |
| Real estate | 37 | #316 of 387 | 395 | 43.7 | Index only | 89 | 281 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 36 | #317 of 387 | 1,022 | 113.0 | $112K | 73 | 321 |
| Physical therapy | 34 | #317 of 386 | 61 | 6.7 | $1.9M | 78 | 53 |
| Property management | 29 | #355 of 374 | 47 | 5.2 | Index only | 58 | 91 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 28 | #326 of 347 | 40 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 53 | 38 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.4 | Index only | 145 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.4 | $22.1M | 161 | 6 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.1 | $114M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Charlottesville metro area
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 | $88.6M | $979 | 102 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $273.9M | $3,028 | 117 |
| Food away from home | $394.7M | $4,364 | 107 |
| Groceries | $591M | $6,534 | 103 |
| Personal care products and services | $92.3M | $1,021 | 102 |
| Child care and other personal services | $54.2M | $599 | 103 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $85.8M | $949 | 96 |
| Medical and dental services | $114M | $1,261 | 98 |
| Pets | $95.5M | $1,056 | 116 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $196.2M | $2,169 | 106 |
| Vehicle insurance | $231.7M | $2,561 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $296.5M | $3,277 | 109 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $151.6M | $1,677 | 119 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.5B | $16,795 | 101 |
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 the Charlottesville metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 228,597+3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 90,452
- Median age
- 41.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,644 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 136
- Median household income
- $93,598+28.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $130,972
- Median home value
- $430,300
- Jobs located here
- 108,968
- Daytime population
- 237,767Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Charlottesville metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. 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 the Charlottesville metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Charlottesville metro area 5
- Albemarle County, VA114,919 people
- Charlottesville city, VA45,437 people
- Fluvanna County, VA28,092 people
- Greene County, VA21,155 people
- Nelson County, VA14,732 people
Other markets based in Virginia 11
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area1,787,235 people
- Richmond, VA metro area1,341,248 people
- Roanoke, VA metro area314,986 people
- Lynchburg, VA metro area263,798 people
- Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metro area181,664 people
- Winchester, VA-WV metro area146,386 people
- Harrisonburg, VA metro area136,992 people
- Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area126,822 people
- Danville, VA area102,070 people
- Martinsville, VA area63,638 people
- Lake of the Woods, VA area37,822 people
Questions
How fast is the Charlottesville, VA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Charlottesville metro area at 228,597 people in 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 90,452 households. Median household income rose 28.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Charlottesville, VA metro area spend?
Households in the Charlottesville metro area spend about $1.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $591M on groceries and $394.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Charlottesville metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (96).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Charlottesville, VA metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Charlottesville metro area are for laundromats (83), insurance agencies (83) and roofing and gutter companies (82). The Charlottesville metro area ranks #9 of 364 scored metro areas for laundromats.
How does the Charlottesville, VA metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Charlottesville metro area is $93,598 a year, 16% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $430,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Charlottesville metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (83% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for barbershops (43% 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. 53 of the 56 business types have a score in the Charlottesville metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Charlottesville metro area. 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.
All markets in Virginia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Charlottesville metro area?
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 the Charlottesville metro area. 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.