Review of Charlottesville, Virginia


Not a good place anymore
Star Rating - 3/29/2021
I have lived in Charlottesville, Albemarle County for 25 years. It USED to be a decent place but in the past 10 years has gone downhill. Rent is TOO high, landlords are greedy, everything has an HOA that like to fine people for various issues, and WAY TOO MUCH growth in town and throughout the county. Traffic and crime both increased. The police are useless when crimes are committed. They dont even bother reporting fender benders. Jobs are very hard to find with all the competition and therefore salaries are LOW. Many people have 2-3 jobs to pay to live here and enjoy whats left of the area. People have grown to be unfriendly with a lot of transplants from New York City, Boston, New Jeresy, Michigan, Indiana etc. All seems to have deteriorated with the quality of life, people always trying to outdo each other with bad drivers, rude people in stores, poor service in restaurants. DO not try to get a car inspected, ALL the shops overcharge and always find something wrong. They charge as much as they can get away with. Several people I know leave each year because they cant take this place and others are virtually trapped here not being able to save enough to move and get out.
Juliette | Charlottesville, VA
Reply to this Comment

2 Replies


You are absolutely spot on! People across the nation in general are not standing up to the rising prices - we as a society are giving businesses an easy pass saying 'well everything costs more'. Not true especially when you read about the glut of inventory major retailers have on hand and don't know how to get rid of it. It's a way for them to recuperate the lost profit COVID created when everything was shut down for over a year. To your point, you are right in that the small town charm Charlottesville possessed a decade ago has deteriorated at a faster rate since the 2017 Unite the Right Rally. Organizers celebrate that hideous day that took the lives of one civilian and two Virginia State Troopers and wear the event like a red badge of courage. What the city council did that day was NOT courageous - it was cowardice. You are right - it's time to leave - move out and find a place that feels like 'home'
RC | Hollymead, VA | Report Abuse

I was born and raised here, and am looking for a place to call home still. Charlottesville is not the place for me any more....If you want to live in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County of central Virginia you should bring a lot of money with you. Unless you work for the University of Virginia, are a lawyer, doctor, or college professor, you will struggle here. If you are not an athiest, socialist, progressive, or communist, your individual belief system will not be tolerated by this very 'diverse, inclusive, and tolerant' community.
David | Scottsville, VA | Report Abuse
MORE REVIEWS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
- 3/27/2021
Nothing positive
Loved here for 7 years, lots of parks and close proximity to Shenandoah, but that’s where ...
A. S. | Charlottesville, VA | 2 Replies

- 3/20/2021
Good luck!
Charlottesville resident for 7 years. Plenty of parks, the Rivanna River and trail, and a ...
A. S. | Charlottesville, VA | No Replies

- 12/21/2020
Why go here?
Being a natural born citizen and spending only a little time away I am in question: who vi...
No | Waynesboro, VA | No Replies

- 3/5/2019
Fun but expensive
Charlottesville is a beautiful college town. Just be forewarned that it comes with a lot o...
fred | Roanoke, VA | 1 Reply

- 3/18/2018
Did not want to leave!
I went to UVa in the late 70's and spent nearly 6 years there as an undergrad and afterwar...
Deborah | Los Angeles, CA | 1 Reply