Housing decision brief
Albemarle County, VA Housing Market
Albemarle County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
122nd lowest home value out of 133 Virginia counties with data | 118th lowest rent out of 133
Median home value
$471,000
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,623/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,611/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
4.6x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$12/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $12/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.74% effective property-tax rate is 18% above Virginia county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Albemarle County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $471,000 | $240,900 | $281,900 | 96% pressure96% above Virginia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,623 | $1,043 | $1,163 | 56% pressure56% above Virginia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,611 | $978 | $1,672 | 65% pressure65% above Virginia county median |
Median household income | $102,617 | $66,718 | $74,755 | 54% favorable54% above Virginia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.74% | 0.63% | 1.02% | 18% pressure18% above Virginia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 28.00% | N/A | Near state median29.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$37,697
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$33,574
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Albemarle County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $1,623/month , about 19.0% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Albemarle County is $1,623/month, while owner costs run $1,611/month. Owning saves approximately $12/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $64,920/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $69,043/year. With a median household income of $102,617, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Albemarle County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Goochland County where rent averages $1,567/month, Albemarle County is approximately 4% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland County, VA | $483,700 | $1,567/mo | Same-state comparison near $483,700 home value and $1,567/mo rent. |
| James City County, VA | $419,200 | $1,491/mo | Same-state comparison near $419,200 home value and $1,491/mo rent. |
| Rappahannock County, VA | $490,200 | $1,384/mo | Same-state comparison near $490,200 home value and $1,384/mo rent. |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | $461,500 | $1,521/mo | Same-state comparison near $461,500 home value and $1,521/mo rent. |
| York County, VA | $411,200 | $1,777/mo | Same-state comparison near $411,200 home value and $1,777/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Albemarle County
Is Albemarle County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Albemarle County?
How much income do you need for housing in Albemarle County?
What should I double-check before moving to Albemarle County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.