Charlottesville, VA Demographics

A map of Charlottesville's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	29,163	29,609	64.2%	63.6%
Black	7,026	7,030	15.5%	15.1%
Asian	3,198	4,064	7.0%	8.7%
Hispanic	3,132	3,207	6.9%	6.9%
Multiracial	2,601	2,341	5.7%	5.0%
Native American/Other	317	302	0.7%	0.6%

Charlottesville, Virginia has an estimated population of 45,437, a slight decrease from the 46,553 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 64.2% White, 15.5% Black, 7.0% Asian, 6.9% Hispanic, 5.7% Multiracial, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Charlottesville, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Charlottesville has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Charlottesville, that probability was 55.8% in 2020 and 55.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Charlottesville is ranked the 23rd most populous place in Virginia, out of 688 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Charlottesville was ranked the 20th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Charlottesville's White Population

29,163 residents of Charlottesville, or 64.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Charlottesville is higher than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Charlottesville ranks 421st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's White population has declined by an estimated 1.5%. White residents' share of Charlottesville's population has increased from 63.6% to 64.2%.

Charlottesville is more White than neighboring University of Virginia (57.4% White), Pantops (61.8% White), and Rio (43.5% White). Charlottesville is less White than neighboring Hollymead (72.3% White), and Rivanna (85.7% White).

Charlottesville's Black Population

7,026 residents of Charlottesville, or 15.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Charlottesville is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Charlottesville ranks 227th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Charlottesville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 15.5%.

Charlottesville is more Black than neighboring University of Virginia (13.2% Black), Pantops (15.1% Black), Hollymead (6.6% Black), and Rivanna (3.5% Black). Charlottesville is less Black than neighboring Rio (26% Black).

Charlottesville's Asian Population

3,198 residents of Charlottesville, or 7.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Charlottesville is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Charlottesville ranks 108th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's Asian population has declined by an estimated 21.3%. Asian residents' share of Charlottesville's population has decreased from 8.7% to 7.0%.

Charlottesville is more Asian than neighboring Rio (3.8% Asian), Hollymead (5.8% Asian), and Rivanna (2.9% Asian). Charlottesville is less Asian than neighboring University of Virginia (18.6% Asian), and Pantops (14.7% Asian).

Charlottesville's Hispanic Population

3,132 residents of Charlottesville, or 6.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Charlottesville is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Charlottesville ranks 248th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Charlottesville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.9%.

Charlottesville is more Hispanic than neighboring University of Virginia (6% Hispanic), Pantops (2.3% Hispanic), and Rivanna (2.3% Hispanic). Charlottesville is less Hispanic than neighboring Rio (22.2% Hispanic), and Hollymead (11.4% Hispanic).

Charlottesville's Native American/Other Population

317 residents of Charlottesville, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Charlottesville is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Charlottesville ranks 364th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 5.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Charlottesville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Charlottesville is more Native American/Other than neighboring University of Virginia (0.4% Native American/Other), Rio (0% Native American/Other), and Hollymead (0.2% Native American/Other). Charlottesville is less Native American/Other than neighboring Pantops (0.8% Native American/Other).

Charlottesville's Multiracial Population

2,601 residents of Charlottesville, or 5.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Charlottesville is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Charlottesville ranks 209th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Charlottesville's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 11.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Charlottesville's population has increased from 5.0% to 5.7%.

Charlottesville is more Multiracial than neighboring University of Virginia (4.3% Multiracial), Pantops (5.3% Multiracial), Rio (4.5% Multiracial), Hollymead (3.6% Multiracial), and Rivanna (4.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.