City Comparison

Burke vs Charlottesville: How they compare

Burke is a well-established Fairfax County community known for Burke Lake Park and tree-lined neighborhoods. 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

Burke's median sold price is $660K with homes averaging 20 days on market; Charlottesville is at $535K and 45 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Burke is pricier ($660K median vs $535K), a difference of about $125K. Burke moves faster, with homes averaging 20 days on market compared to 45 in Charlottesville. Charlottesville offers a lower entry point at $175K–$2M.

Burke

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$660K

$535K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

20 days

45 days

Price Range

$235K–$1.8M

$175K–$2M

Notable Neighborhoods

Burke Centre, Burke Station Square, Longwood Knolls, Cherry Run

Downtown Mall, Belmont, North Downtown, Barracks Road

Schools

Burke has a 86% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Burke include Lake Braddock Secondary School and Robinson Secondary School; in Charlottesville, Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School. See Burke schools | See Charlottesville schools

Burke

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Avg Pass Rate

86%

80%

Public schools

Lake Braddock Secondary School, Robinson Secondary School, White Oaks Elementary

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 ~35 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Burke (I-495, Rt 123, Burke Centre Pkwy), Charlottesville (I-64, Rt 29, Rt 250).

Burke

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Drive to Downtown

~35 min

~10 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-495, Rt 123, Burke Centre Pkwy

I-64, Rt 29, Rt 250

Commuter Rail

VRE (Burke Centre station)

None

Walkability

Charlottesville is more walkable with a Walk Score of 48 (Car-Dependent), compared to 22 in Burke. Transit scores: Burke (15) vs Charlottesville (18). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Burke Centre and Downtown Mall score much higher than suburban areas.

Burke

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Walk Score

22Almost All Errands Require a Car
48Car-Dependent

Transit Score

15

18

Bike Score

25

58

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Burke 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.

Burke

VA

Charlottesville

VA

Reported Violent Crime

0.5/1K

2.5/1K

Reported Property Crime

8.2/1K

19.8/1K

VA

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Related Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Burke or Charlottesville more affordable?

Charlottesville is more affordable with a median sold price of $535K, compared to $660K in Burke (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. Burke prices range from $235K–$1.8M. Charlottesville prices range from $175K–$2M.

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

Burke public schools have a 86% average SOL pass rate; Charlottesville has 80% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Burke include Lake Braddock Secondary School and Robinson Secondary 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, Burke or Charlottesville?

Charlottesville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~10 minutes vs ~35 minutes. Burke has no direct Metro access. Charlottesville has no direct Metro access.

How do Burke and Charlottesville compare?

Burke is a well-established Fairfax County community known for Burke Lake Park and tree-lined neighborhoods. 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.

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