Real Estate Investing in Charlottesville, Virginia (22901)

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

Albemarle County • Population: 36,922 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 22901 (Charlottesville, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Charlottesville, VA (22901)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $538,414
Avg Monthly Rent $1,864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $88,911
% Renters 40.6%

Market Analysis: 22901 Charlottesville

Put differently, ZIP 22901 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $538K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 22901 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $538K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Looking more closely, 22901 offers a low basis, the region around Charlottesville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

On balance, 36,922 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.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. significant returns are possible in 22901, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,864/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
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 22901

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$138,012/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $198,745 $1,700 6.2% +7.6% $198,745
2BR $276,024 $1,940 5.1% +7.6% $138,012
3BR $457,855 $2,360 3.7% +6.3% $152,618
4BR $701,147 $2,900 3.0% +7.6% $175,287
5BR $970,798 +8.0% $194,160

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$563K$500K$436K$372K$309K$245KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,989$1,823$1,658$1,492$1,326$1,160Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 22901 Compare?

Metric 22901 Charlottesville Charlottesville, VA Virginia
Home Value $538,414 $190,015 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 4.8% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,864 $2,057 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 22901? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 41% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 22901 (Charlottesville, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
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 $538,414
Monthly Rent $1,864
Price-to-Rent 24.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
5.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 22901

Population: 36,922

💰 Median Household Income
$88,911
This area
$88,911
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.6%
This area
40.6%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.5%
This area
61.5%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.6%
Black/African American 12.0%
Other/Mixed 7.3%
Asian 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
👶 Under 18
20.1%
This area
20.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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 22901

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$20,558 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mary Carr Greer Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
496 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodbrook Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Agnor-Hurt Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ivy Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Journey Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
607 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Burnley-Moran Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Greenbrier Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
A Very Good

Charlottesville High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,405 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,257 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Albemarle High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,005 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,208 Per Student
C Below Average

Charlottesville-Albemarle Tech

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Piedmont Reg Ed/Ivy Creek

📚 Grade N Elementary 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 · 4.6 mi
C
Piedmont Virginia Community College
5,174 students · 6.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How viable is house hacking in Charlottesville, VA?

House hacking in Charlottesville, VA is a challenging. With home values around $538K and rents at $1,864/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How much rent can I charge in Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville, VA rentals go for roughly $1,864/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $538K acquisition costs.

How strong is tenant demand in Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville, VA draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $1,864/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is rental property easy to operate in Charlottesville, VA?

Landlord-friendliness in Charlottesville, VA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Are homes affordable in Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville, VA home values average about $538K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,864/mo in monthly income.

You know 22901 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 22901 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 22901 ranks in Charlottesville, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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