Real Estate Investing in Charlottesville, Virginia (22903)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Albemarle County • Population: 39,925 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 22903 (Charlottesville, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Charlottesville, VA (22903)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $541,799
Avg Monthly Rent $2,052
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,344
% Renters 59.3%

Market Analysis: 22903 Charlottesville

Investors eyeing 22903 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $542K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $542K asset, 22903 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 22903 and stronger Charlottesville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Put differently, 39,925 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Charlottesville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 22903. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Charlottesville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,052/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Charlottesville, VA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Charlottesville, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 22903

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$160,684/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $274,471 $1,660 4.4% +6.6% $274,471
2BR $346,110 $1,890 3.9% +6.0% $173,055
3BR $482,052 $2,300 3.4% +5.8% $160,684
4BR $759,750 $2,830 2.7% +7.1% $189,938
5BR $1,176,034 +8.5% $235,207

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$570K$506K$442K$379K$315K$252KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,216$2,004$1,792$1,580$1,368$1,156Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 22903 Compare?

Metric 22903 Charlottesville Charlottesville, VA Virginia
Home Value $541,799 $190,015 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.8% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $2,052 $2,057 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 22903? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

59% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 22903 (Charlottesville, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Charlottesville, VA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
1/2
58 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $541,799
Monthly Rent $2,052
Price-to-Rent 22.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 22903

Population: 39,925

💰 Median Household Income
$66,344
This area
$66,344
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
59.3%
This area
59.3%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
64.8%
This area
64.8%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.0%
Black/African American 14.5%
Asian 9.4%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
👶 Under 18
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 22903

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,837 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Buford Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
559 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Leslie H. Walton Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jackson P. Burley Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
551 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jackson-Via Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Johnson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Venable Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Walker Upper Elementary

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Virginia L. Murray Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A Very Good

Community Lab School

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
179 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
C+ Average

Lugo-McGinness Academy

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$21,257 Per Student
C Below Average

Charlottesville Hosp. Ep.

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 714 Off-Campus Students
A
University of Virginia-Main Campus
25,924 students · 5.6 mi
C
Piedmont Virginia Community College
5,174 students · 6.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 714 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Charlottesville, VA make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Charlottesville, VA reflects its $542K prices and $2,052/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within VA.

Are homes affordable in Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville, VA home values average about $542K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $2,052/mo in monthly income.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Charlottesville, VA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Charlottesville, VA. Rents at $2,052/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is it like being a landlord in Charlottesville, VA?

VA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Charlottesville generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How much rent can I charge in Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville, VA rentals go for roughly $2,052/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $542K acquisition costs.

You know 22903 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 22903 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 22903 ranks in Charlottesville, VA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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