Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville is a tiny city relative to the things happening here. People from bigger cities complain about it being quiet but considering it is just 40k+ in population, it has amazing culture, energy, and social opportunities for youngsters, families, and retirees. First, you have a pretty vibrant arts scene for artists themselves and those who appreciate art and want to visit galleries and museums. You also have theater, performing arts, and sporting events both as part of the school and in town. Finally, you have a really good restaurant, bar and cafe scene both near school and downtown. If you’re 26 and looking for a major city social scene this will seem pretty tame but for a small city, this city offers a ton.

There are college towns in the south that are bigger, more active, and have better housing prices. Charlottesville is small and a bit fancy in terms of the housing stock, lifestyle, and the prices that come with that fanciness. But, it is stunningly beautiful.

Charlottesville, like a lot of smaller college towns, is a bit like a donut with a pretty big hole in the middle. It works for students, and it works for couples ready to be more chill, and it is amazing for families. But if you’re a young professional and ready for an active social life, then the city can be tricky. There is a fair bit to do, with, as noted, museums/galleries, cultural events, and good restaurants and bars, but it still feels more suited near the school for students and the rest of the city for Gen X’ers and families.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Charlottesville check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Charlottesville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

The city is working hard to build a tech, biotech, and general startup scene but it is not quite there yet to attract a lot of graduates from UVA and other parts of the country. Don’t bet against it in the long run but the growth brings local grumpiness so there’s a lot of local dissatisfaction with the path the city is taking. The problem is you have a mismatch with the housing and the local job market so best to move here as a wfh’er so you aren’t dependent on the local job market in the long run.