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Compare towns

Reston vs Charlottesville

88 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (2× in Reston) and property tax bill (+68% in Reston).

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Reston, VAAn outdoors townVirginia · 64,414 people
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Charlottesville, VAA colonial town, settled 1762Virginia · 45,437 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Reston places higher on 15 of 21 VA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Virginia ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $760 more a month in Reston

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Reston$3,810/mo
Typical home $625K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.02% · or rent about $2,231/mo · Housing →
Charlottesville$3,050/mo
Typical home $515K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.80% · or rent about $1,540/mo · Housing →

The difference: $760 a month, about $9,200 a year, between Reston and Charlottesville.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
RestonCharlottesville
Snow a year21″17″
January low25°F28°F
July high88°F87°F
Growing season (days)194d222d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)10th24th
Outdoors & history
RestonCharlottesville
Conserved land12.6%10.2%
Settled19641762
National Register places271
Famous people born here25—
Community
RestonCharlottesville
Library hours a week65 hrs68 hrs
Colleges in town—1
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

88 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Reston ↔ Charlottesville88 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

RestonCharlottesville
People
Population 64,414Highest 45,437Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +8.3%Highest VA: +7.9% +7.1%Lowest VA: +7.9%
Median age 40.1±1.4Highest about the VA average 33.1±0.4Lowest 15% below VA
Kids under 18 18.6%±1.3Highest VA: 21.7% 16.5%±1Lowest VA: 21.7%
Reston and Charlottesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.2%±0.9Highest VA: 16.7% 13.5%±1.1Lowest VA: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 72%Highest VA: 42.2% 62.5%Lowest VA: 42.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.8%±0.8Lowest VA: 6.9% 21.7%±1.2Highest VA: 6.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $148,710±$8kHighest 60% above VA $74,824±$5kLowest 20% below VA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $642,000±$15kHighest 67% above VA $486,700±$16kLowest 27% above VA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,231±$54Highest 41% above VA $1,540±$63Lowest about the VA average
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,573Highest 136% above VA $3,915Lowest 40% above VA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 35.7%±4Lowest VA: 48.5% 55.5%±5.2Highest VA: 48.5%
Below poverty line 5.7%Lowest VA: 9.9% 19.6%Highest VA: 9.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.6%Highest VA: 67.3% 44.2%Lowest VA: 67.3%
Typical home builtmedian year 1984Highest same as VA 1968Lowest 16 yrs older than VA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minHighest 5% below VA 17 minLowest 38% below VA
Work from home 33.5%±2.6Highest VA: 18.3% 21.4%±2.4Lowest VA: 18.3%
Work in townworking residents 14%Lowest 34%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miHighest 2.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.29Highest 1.96Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (10%)University of Virginia (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CharlottesvilleFew work in Reston
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 12.6%Highest 10.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 45.7 miHighest 23.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.9 miHighest 2.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 33Highest 28Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 81.3Lowest 117Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 219 in VA#145 of 219 in VA
School district Fairfax County Public SchoolsAlbemarle County Public Schools · Charlottesville City Public Schools
High school in town South Lakes HighCharlottesville High
Students per teacherat that high school 11.7Lowest 12.5Highest
Virginia average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Reston neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Reston’s Town Square.

Charlottesville neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Charlottesville’s Town Square.

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Bordering Reston

Towns like Reston

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Virginia towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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