Living in Charlottesville
At UVA Radiology and Medical Imaging, the professional and educational opportunities afforded by a major academic medical center are coupled with the ease and charm of living in one of the United States’ most-renowned small cities.
Working at UVA Health, a Level I trauma center and a major academic medical center, means that each day brings new and rewarding challenges. But those rewarding professional challenges are balanced by Charlottesville, Virginia’s strong sense of community, astonishing natural beauty, and ever-expanding inventory of things to experience, eat, and explore. At the end of the day, the convenience of small-city living means you have more time to spend with family and friends.
Charlottesville, Virginia, is regularly rated as one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and raise a family. Residents enjoy everything that a major metropolitan area has to offer in a community-minded small city nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Spend a little time learning about Charlottesville and you’ll see why it’s been called the happiest town in America; one of the best places to live in America; one of the healthiest towns in America, one of America’s favorite mountain towns, and one of the best small towns for food.
Click each of the sections below to learn more about Charlottesville.
Charlottesville is a close and genuinely engaged community anchored by the University of Virginia, one of the nation’s best public universities. A small city of about 48,000 residents, Charlottesville is the hub of a metropolitan area that’s home to about 230,000 people.
The Charlottesville community is genuinely diverse, highly engaged, and community minded. Many major national companies and organizations make their headquarters here, attracted by the quality of life, the connection to UVA, and the proximity to major cities. This means that your neighbors come from across the globe to live in central Virginia.
No matter your religion, cultural background, or life experiences, you will find people who share your ideals, traditions and customs here in Charlottesville.
Food and Drink
Charlottesville is a food-lovers paradise, with one of the highest per-capita restaurant counts in the United States. The vibrant food community also includes a thriving farmer’s market and dozens of area farms, ranches, and food producers.
Charlottesville is in the heart of Virginia wine country, home to more than 60 wineries (many of national distinction), as well as dozens of local breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
The Great Outdoors
How many cities can claim to be just 20 minutes from a National Park? In Charlottesville, Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains beckon, promising hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding, and more. Residents also explore dozens of other natural areas, orchards, trails, lakes and rivers. Click here for an overview of nearby outdoor activities.
Farther afield, Virginia Beach is just a 2.5 hour drive away, as are the sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
Music and Arts
Charlottesville is known for its music scene and for being the home of the Dave Matthews Band. Any night of the week, you can catch local and national acts performing in coffee shops, restaurants, bars, or at one of the larger venues in town like The Jefferson Theater, The John Paul Jones Arena, or the Sprint Pavilion.
Charlottesville has a wealth of classical music organizations and venues; art galleries, art parks and studio spaces; community and university theaters; and is a hub of architecture and design. It’s home to several annual festivals that bring in people from across the mid-Atlantic, including the Virginia Film Festival, the Virginia Festival of the Book, and the Tom Tom Founders Festival.
Sports and Fitness
Central Virginians keep busy with fitness, sports and outdoor activities. Residents can participate in community and intramural sports leagues through the city of Charlottesville or UVA. Multiple renowned golf courses are nearby, as are ski resorts, tennis and squash clubs, multiple fitness and aquatic centers, a plethora of on and off-road options for cyclists, a robust running community, and some of the east coast’s best hiking.
As a fan, you can cheer on UVA’s Division I athletic teams, including the 2018 National Championship Men’s Basketball team.
History
Charlottesville is the home of presidents – besides Thomas Jefferson’s beloved home, Monticello, James Monroe’s Highland and James Madison’s Montpelier are also nearby. Monticello, along with the rotunda and academical village that Jefferson designed for the University of Virginia, are major cultural and historical attractions that together comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The University of Virginia recently opened a Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, as a small way to begin to recognize that the University was built and largely maintained by enslaved peoples.
Retail Destinations
Charlottesville and the surrounding area are home to an ever-growing number of distinctive and high-quality national and local retailers. Major retail destinations include the Downtown Mall, Barracks Road, The Shops at Stonefield, and 5th Street Station. For more information about local Charlottesville businesses, visit The Scout Guide: Charlottesville.
Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and nearby towns like Crozet and Keswick offer a wealth of different housing options for every taste and budget. From city neighborhoods within walking distance to Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall or to the Medical Center, to idyllic communities perfect for raising a family farther from town, everyone can find a perfect home in the Charlottesville area.
Charlottesville’s growing population means that new houses, apartments and communities are constantly being developed, giving potential residents more options and the newest amenities to choose from. And as property values continue to rise, purchasing a home in central Virginia represents a worthwhile investment.
Check out the Nest Realty guide to Charlottesville to learn more about neighborhoods and see what’s currently available. Visit the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors to find a realtor, or check out currently available homes and rental properties on Zillow.
Charlottesville and Albemarle County are home to some of the Virginia’s best public schools, with average SAT scores that are higher than state or national averages, a diverse array of advanced classes, and a majority of teachers holding advanced degrees. Central Virginia is also home to numerous private schools as well as many high-quality preschool and daycare options.
Resources
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Located just 15 minutes north of town, the Charlottesville-Albermarle Airport offers over 50 daily flights to New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Philadelphia. Charlottesville is also served by three Amtrak routes with multiple daily trains to Washington, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, as well as Greyhound and Megabus.
Interstate 64 runs directly through Charlottesville and connects to Richmond and I-95 to the east, as well as I-81 to the west. Virginia Route 29 offers easy access to Washington, D.C.
Driving Times to Nearby Cities and Attractions
Shenandoah National Park – 20 minutes
Richmond, VA – 1 hour
Washington, D.C. – 2 hours
Virginia Beach, VA – 2.5 hours
Philadelphia, PA – 3.5 hours
Raleigh, NC – 3.5 hours
New York City – 6 hours