Charlottesville, VA Metro Area
The Charlottesville, VA metro area is made up of 5 counties and independent cities in Virginia: Albemarle, Charlottesville city, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson, largest first. About 228,597 people lived there on July 1, 2025 (Census estimate), 3.2% more than in April 2020.
- Population, July 2025
- 228,597 3.2% more than in April 2020
- Type
- Metropolitan statistical area
- Counties and independent cities
- 5: 2 central, 3 outlying
- Land area
- 1,645 sq mi (4,259 km²)
- Time zone
- Eastern TimeUTC-05:00 in January; UTC-04:00 in July
- State
- Virginia
- CBSA code
- 16820
Counties and independent cities in the Charlottesville, VA metro area, largest first
| County or independent city | Role | Population, July 2025 | Share of the area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County | Central | 118,356 | 51.8% |
| Charlottesville city | Central | 44,388 | 19.4% |
| Fluvanna County | Outlying | 28,975 | 12.7% |
| Greene County | Outlying | 21,958 | 9.6% |
| Nelson County | Outlying | 14,920 | 6.5% |
A central county or independent city holds the area’s core, an urban area of at least 50,000 people. An outlying county or independent city is in the area because of commuting: at least a quarter of its workers have jobs in the central counties and independent cities, or at least a quarter of the people working there live in them. A county or independent city belongs to one metro or micro area at most, and it counts whole, countryside included.
Principal city
- Charlottesville45,437 people
OMB names the area after its largest principal cities. A principal city is the area’s largest city, plus any other city that is very large or a big job center, and smaller ones with at least as many jobs as working residents (2020 Census and commuting figures). People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Bordering metro and micro areas, nearest first
Areas with a county or independent city on this area’s edge. Distances are straight lines between the areas’ largest cities.
- Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA Metro Area32 mi west
- Harrisonburg, VA Metro Area35 mi northwest
- Lake of the Woods, VA Micro Area45 mi northeast
- Lynchburg, VA Metro Area59 mi southwest
- Richmond, VA Metro Area65 mi southeast
Before using this answer on a form
A metro or micro area is a statistical area that OMB draws for federal statistics. It is not a city, a local government or a mailing address, and it is not a measure of urban and rural: whole counties count, rural parts included. Programs that use metro areas, such as housing income limits or wage rates, can use their own version of these lists; check the program’s own list for an address.
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