Charlottesville, VA vs Chester, VA

Chester is moderately more affordable than Charlottesville, with a 12.5% lower cost of living index. Charlottesville scores 115 compared to 103 for Chester, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Charlottesville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Charlottesville is $1,453/month compared to $1,463/month in Chester — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charlottesville has cheaper rent, Chester actually has lower median home values ($290,600 vs $448,400).

Median household income in Charlottesville is $69,829 compared to $88,455 in Chester (-21.1%). Chester offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Charlottesville spend roughly 25% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Chester.