$866,835Average Value$364Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
A college neighborhood that's highly walkable
Venable is filled with the collegiate colors of orange and blue. “Charlottesville is University of Virginia, and University of Virginia is Charlottesville,” says Amy Spalding, accountant for Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates. But while it’s fair to say that this neighborhood is largely centered on the campus, it’s also true that a lot of housing recedes into wooded streets that feel nearly monastic. Of course, excitement always awaits in the busy restaurant scene, which pulls in students, professionals and locals from nearby counties. It’s possible to see preppy polo shirts, flared yoga pants and scruffy overalls passing across the bustling intersection of Elliewood Avenue and University Avenue, where Starbucks is the lone chain eatery embedded in a strip of beloved haunts just steps from the college’s historic Rotunda, designed by Thomas Jefferson. “The deciding factor for homebuyers is the fact that they can walk to work,” says Lori Meistrell, associate broker at Nest Realty and a Charlottesville native who’s been involved in local real estate since 2008.
A dense collection of shops at University Avenue and Elliewood Avenue
The trestle at University Avenue and 14th Street is a rustic entrance to The Corner, a dense collection of boutiques, markets and restaurants that continues unspooling along Elliewood Avenue, a dead-end street three blocks away. Monroe Allen is a real estate associate with Sotheby’s International, and a graduate of the university, who has watched this area change in recent years: “Typically you wouldn’t have students wander east of here, towards the Amtrak station, but now Venable is linked up with downtown through a stretch of new development that includes shops and housing.” Today, popular standbys like The White Spot – a small gritty burger joint open since 1953 – are steps away from polished establishments, like the sprawling Mellow Mushroom housed in a sleek charcoal brick building. The area is really designed for pedestrians, but there is a parking garage on Elliewood. “At night, Elliewood really comes alive with entertainment,” Allen says. “Ellie’s Country Club is a popular bar with an outdoor vibe, suited for hanging out. Crozet Pizza next door is super active, too.”
Campus grounds provide green space and athletics
For a neighborhood that is anchored by a walkable urban stretch filled with retail, Venable is also very green. “You have the Rotunda and the lawn in front of it, then all the gardens around the Rotunda, which definitely make you feel like you’re in the South,” Allen says, gesturing to brick-bordered courtyards filled with flowers. “You’ll see couples picnicking in the gardens for a date night.” He points out the extensive mature trees around the area, from oak trees to a giant magnolia hugging a bench near University Avenue. “A lot of people will make an occasion out of going there to take a picture,” he says. Athletics are part of the neighborhood’s culture, too. “People like playing at the Snyder Tennis Center, which you can walk to,” says Patricia Irby, a real estate agent at Keller Williams Alliance, recognized there as a top 20% performer in sales and closed production.
Renovated eclectic styles that peek into the $1 million range
Rugby Road is one of the key pathways in Venable, where drivers and pedestrians pass “Frat Row” as locals affectionately call it. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at the corner of Rugby and Fendall Avenue serves as a kind of informal demarcation line into leafier residential stretches. Cape Cods and stark white modern farmhouses with covered front porches become a common sight, especially on tucked away side streets like Cottage Lane, replacing the redbrick investment properties that owners rent out to students. Some have attached garages, while others have no garage at all. There’s a sense that homeowners like to spread their property out, too. “You’ll see a lot of remodeled ranches,” says Meistrell. “Renovation is a constant in Venable. People will turn a one-story home into a two-story home.” Large colonials are another hallmark feature of Venable, says Irby. “There’s not a lot of turnover in this neighborhood, so properties go fast. I recently saw a house priced at $995,000 go under contract in five days, and it needed a lot of work,” she says. “But you are starting to see development and interest on the east end, near the John Paul Jones arena, where smaller houses can be found.” Prices tend to range from $1.2 to $1.9 million.
Venable Elementary has a Jeffersonian facade
With the renowned University of Virginia supporting the neighborhood, it’s little surprise that the public schools are highly rated, too. Venable Elementary —which could fit right in with campus architecture, thanks to soaring Grecian columns— receives a B rating from Niche. Buford Middle is rated B-minus and has a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Charlottesville High is an A-rated school known for popular student clubs, like the Debate Team and the Golf Team, which both won state championships in 2023.
Traffic on University Avenue, but plenty of pedestrian paths
“If you no longer see a V painted on the street, you’ve left Venable,” says Meistrell, referring to the university logo. Irby notes that rush hour tends to bring bottlenecks along University Avenue. “Traffic can make it tough to get out,” she says. “But thankfully, if you’re on campus grounds for any reason, you can just walk there.” Alternative transportation is embraced by residents, too. Danny Hugus is a real estate agent with the Mike Hogan Group and he says that “the bike riding experience is incredible in a lot of these urban parts of Charlottesville, it’s super safe.” It’s this buzz of activity that keeps people pouring in the neighborhood, says Steve Michaels, an early childhood educator with Congregation Beth Israel. “The area has turned itself into a one-stop shop,” he says.
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
On average, homes in Venable, Charlottesville sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Venable, Charlottesville over the last 12 months is $1,210,000, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This brick and frame home, circa 1951, is on the corner of two important City streets, Rugby Road and Winston Road. The home is walking distance, and a short bike ride, to both UVA and The Barracks Road Shopping Center. The home features a primary bedroom suite on both the main level and the second level, hardwood floors in much of the home, and a basement where the past Owner taught dane
Terrific university area rental... Rented through May 2026 for $3895/month. 3 bedroom 2 bath up...with living room, dining room and kitchen... 1 bedroom 1 bath on terrace level featuring a large living room, bedroom and kitchen...washer and dryer in each unit... Excellent condition... more photos coming soon
Great home on an elevated lot close to UVA...Currently rented through May 2026...Bright and cheerful, large living and dining rooms, kitchen, hardwood floors, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths upstairs...rented for $2587/mo & plus $100/ mo for utilities...Terrace level: LVT on terrace level... 1 big bedroom...living room...kitchen, laundry...rented though 5/26 for $1470 plus $50/mo for utilities...
Great UVA Corner location. Near UVA hospital. Available for June 7, 2026 occupancy. Please see virtual tour. Rent includes water and sewer, trash and parking. Electricity and internet are additional.
Welcome to 1521 Virginia Avenue, Apt. 4, a spacious 4-bedroom 3-story townhouse located in the heart of Charlottesville, VA. This three-story home features a private patio and shared yard, perfect for enjoying the outdoors. With a washer/dryer included, you'll have all the conveniences of home right at your fingertips. Situated near UVA Corner, this townhouse is the ideal location for students
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.
