Rose Hill remixes Charlottesville's urban and suburban tendencies
Rose Hill is like a remix of Charlottesville’s hallmark qualities. This neighborhood has plenty of eateries interwoven with quiet residential streets, yet it’s not quite the dense environment of North Downtown next door. The feel of Rose Hill mixes urban with suburban sentiment. Even geographically, Rose Hill sits between the vibrant pedestrian mall and University of Virginia grounds. Still, as Charlottesville continues to develop, the community benefits from the changes that are taking over the city, which is one positive to a debate that’s recently taken hold. “There have been some changes to zoning laws in the city since around February 2024,” says Alexandria Searls, executive director of the city’s Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center. “It’s making for an interesting home market, because it paves the way for more density here.” Other locals, like Lori Meistrell, associate broker of Nest Realty, describe the neighborhood’s evolution in this way: “Preston Avenue runs through here, and that’s becoming a kind of bridge corridor, bringing the surrounding neighborhoods together.”
Bungalows and other small single family homes line the back streets of Rose Hill.
Rose Hill is only a five min commute to downtown Charlottesville.
1/2
Bungalows and modern Craftsman styles, spread across a dozen streets
Rose Hill is a small neighborhood, comprised of only about a dozen streets, making it a bit of a challenge to catch homes on the market. Some homebuyers are prompted to build from the ground up, with parcels of land coming in at around $900,000 for just over a quarter acre. But with streets laid out in a neat grid already stacked with homes, building from scratch certainly isn’t the norm. Instead, homebuyers are more likely to see properties with minimal side yards and a front lawn separated from the sidewalk by a fence. Bungalows, Cape Cods and assorted two-story homes in the $300,000 to $550,000 range give Rose Hill an edge over surrounding neighborhoods which lack this price category. Of course, at the higher end of this range, homes are more recent, having been built in the early 2000s. But they still retain a look that’s congruent with the rest of the neighborhood – covered front porches, neutral or light earth tones and narrow lots that the home sits back on. Some of these properties, which could be described as modern traditional with slight Craftsman stylings, are multi-story, sometimes spreading as many as five bedrooms across 2,400 square feet. These homes from the 2010s and 2020s are priced in the $500,000 to $650,000 range.
Large modern homes can be found on the outskirts of the Rose Hill neighborhood.
Small affordable single family homes are popular throughout the neighborhood of Rose Hill.
1/2
Bodo's Bagels is a beloved stop on Preston Avenue
Most of Rose Hill’s dining and shopping scene is based around Preston Avenue, which includes a spot for beloved Bodo’s Bagels. “Bodo’s is a must-try in the city, definitely lots of options to choose from and affordable,” says Forcey Learmonth, a local guide for the Rivanna River. “When the owner sold to a group a few years ago, he made them promise to keep the franchise in Charlottesville. So there’s local pride around it.” The Market at Preston mixes a pit stop for gas with deli items like chicken sandwiches. But if locals want a small market where they can pick up produce and drinks as well as prepared items, Integral Yoga Natural Foods is just a few steps away. This health food store is placed in a strip mall, surrounded by an array of cuisine choices: Mediterranean, Taiwanese and French. The scene is rounded out by The Dairy Market, a unique food hall concept placed in a 1930s dairy distribution center. Available cuisine ranges from American to Asian.
Residents of Rose Hill visit Bodo's Bagels for coffee and fresh made bagels
Bodo's Bagels in Rose Hill serves a variety of fresh bagels and homemade cream cheeses.
1/2
Award-winning extracurricular clubs at Charlottesville High School
Students in Rose Hill are zoned for Charlottesville City Schools. Greenbrier Elementary earns a B rating from Niche, and maintains an 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Fifth and sixth graders may attend the Walker Upper Elementary School, which rates a C-plus on Niche. The B-minus-rated Buford Middle School serves grades seven and eight. Charlottesville High School is an A-minus-rated school with extracurricular clubs known for winning state championships. There are also several renowned private schools within the Charlottesville area, including the A-plus-rated St. Anne’s-Belfield School.
Community Lab School
Charlottesville High faithfully serves the community of Locust Grove.
1/2
Booker T. Washington Park is an active hub
Booker T. Washington Park occupies the northwestern swath of this neighborhood, giving it an anchor in outdoor recreation. Coming in at only 9 acres, it’s not the city's biggest park – but it’s one of the most active, thanks in part to the fact that four neighborhoods converge here. The pool is a popular retreat in the warmer months, but throughout the year visitors use the basketball courts, picnic shelters, ball field and playground. Many of these facilities are placed at the bottom of a slope, giving the park a scenic feel.
Parents enjoy each others company while their kids play on the playground in Rose Hill.
Booker T. Washington Park
1/2
Rose Hill residents can ride across Preston Avenue to many destinations
Rose Hill residents have direct access to Preston Avenue, one of the best ways to access what wider Charlottesville has to offer. Besides the dining and retail offerings it provides within the neighborhood’s immediate radius, drivers can take the avenue two miles west to the Barracks Road Shopping Center, which has multiple supermarkets, fast casual eateries and name brand clothing stores. It’s not even half a mile in the other direction that the downtown mall appears, which is a star amenity of Charlottesville. Buses are also available along Preston. Besides being in a strategic location as far as commercial corridors go, Rose Hill is also eminently walkable, given both its gridded layout and easygoing suburban streets with sidewalks.
Bus stops can be found on the main street bordering the edge of the Rose Hill neighborhood.
Residents of Rose Hill cross the street to eat at the various options in the Dairy Market.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Welcome to your dream home offering unparalleled proximity to downtown and the University of Virginia. This beautifully updated residence offers modern comfort and timeless appeal. Spacious living with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this home provides ample space for both relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy the benefits of a fully renovated interior completed in 2022, showcasing contemporary
Rare multi-parcel .28 acre development opportunity with 140 feet of Preston Ave frontage in the heart of the City of Charlottesville. Located between the Preston Shopping Center and the Wellness center offering high visibility and easy walking distance to Dairy Market, The Downtown Mall and numerous shops and restaurants. Both lots fall within the Mixed Use CX-3 designation. Easy automobile
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Cynthia Hash,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
460
Median Age
31
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.3%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$50,455
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$66,978
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
84.6%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
33.8%
Advanced Degrees
15.7%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
84/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
88/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
42/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
