City Comparison

Ashburn vs Charlottesville: How they compare

Ashburn is one of Loudoun County's fastest-growing communities. Charlottesville is a college town centered around the University of Virginia, with a walkable downtown, vibrant arts scene, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia wine country. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Ashburn's median sold price is $729K with homes averaging 29 days on market; Charlottesville is at $535K and 45 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Ashburn is pricier ($729K median vs $535K), a difference of about $194K. Ashburn moves faster, with homes averaging 29 days on market compared to 45 in Charlottesville. Charlottesville offers a lower entry point at $175K–$2M.

Ashburn

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$729K

$535K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

29 days

45 days

Price Range

$350K–$1.2M

$175K–$2M

Notable Neighborhoods

Broadlands, Brambleton, Lansdowne, One Loudoun

Downtown Mall, Belmont, North Downtown, Barracks Road

Schools

Ashburn has a 89% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Ashburn include Briar Woods High School and Stone Bridge High School; in Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School. See Ashburn schools | See Charlottesville schools

Ashburn

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Avg Pass Rate

89%

80%

Public schools

Briar Woods High School, Stone Bridge High School, Eagle Ridge Middle School

Charlottesville High School, Buford Middle School, Jackson-Via Elementary

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Charlottesville is closer to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~45 minutes. Ashburn has 2 Metro stations, including Ashburn on the Silver line. Major highway access: Ashburn (Rt 7, Rt 28, Dulles Greenway), Charlottesville (I-64, Rt 29, Rt 250).

Ashburn

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Drive to Downtown

~45 min

~10 min

Metro Stations

2 Metro stations (nearest: Ashburn)

No Metro access

Metro Lines

Silver

N/A

Major Highways

Rt 7, Rt 28, Dulles Greenway

I-64, Rt 29, Rt 250

Commuter Rail

None

None

Walkability

Charlottesville is more walkable with a Walk Score of 48 (Car-Dependent), compared to 28 in Ashburn. Transit scores: Ashburn (22) vs Charlottesville (18). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Broadlands and Downtown Mall score much higher than suburban areas.

Ashburn

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Walk Score

28Car-Dependent
48Car-Dependent

Transit Score

22

18

Bike Score

35

58

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Ashburn and Charlottesville. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Ashburn

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Reported Violent Crime

0.4/1K

2.5/1K

Reported Property Crime

6.9/1K

19.8/1K

VA

Search homes in Ashburn

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

VA

Search homes in Charlottesville

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

Decided between Ashburn and Charlottesville? See how buying a home works on smover.

Related Comparisons

See how other nearby cities stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashburn or Charlottesville more affordable?

Charlottesville is more affordable with a median sold price of $535K, compared to $729K in Ashburn (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Ashburn prices range from $350K–$1.2M. Charlottesville prices range from $175K–$2M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Ashburn and Charlottesville?

Ashburn public schools have a 89% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Ashburn include Briar Woods High School and Stone Bridge High School; in Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Ashburn or Charlottesville?

Charlottesville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~45 minutes. Ashburn has Metro access (Ashburn). Charlottesville has no direct Metro access.

How do Ashburn and Charlottesville compare?

Ashburn is one of Loudoun County's fastest-growing communities. Charlottesville is a college town centered around the University of Virginia, with a walkable downtown, vibrant arts scene, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia wine country. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

Stay ahead of the market

Join buyers, sellers, and agents across Northern Virginia getting weekly market updates, new listings, and tips. Free, every Monday.

Trusted in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and 19 more cities

Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Take ownership of your move.

Search, save, choose your people, and organize the dates, documents, and updates that follow.