Charlottesville (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Charlottesville (city) is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Charlottesville (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Construction employs 1,379, down 23.4% since 2019. Employers here counted 37,129 jobs in 2025, down 10.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.0% in August 2026, against 2.4% in 2019. 44,388 people live here, down 4.4% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Charlottesville (city)
Charlottesville (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Charlottesville (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 46,433 | 44,388 | ▼ 4.4% | 39th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 41,324 | 37,129 | ▼ 10.2% | 125th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $54,971 | $74,730 | ▲ 35.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,800 | 1,379 | ▼ 23.4% | 80th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 277 | 86 | ▼ 69.0% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 55 | 11 | ▼ 80.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.4% | 3.0% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
Electrical contractors employ 86, down 69.0% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $55,809 a year.
Who powers Charlottesville (city)
No operating power plant is located in Charlottesville (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Charlottesville (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 37,129 | $74,730 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,379 | $81,253 | 0.70 |
| Electrical contractors | 86 | $55,809 | 0.32 |
| Data processing and hosting | 11 | $118,893 | 0.10 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Charlottesville (city)
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Charlottesville (city). Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide.
Charlottesville (city) and its neighbors
Of the 1 counties that border Charlottesville (city), Albemarle County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville (city) | 44,388 | ▼ 10.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Albemarle County | 118,356 | ▲ 12.5% | 13 MW | — | — | — |
More of Virginia
Charlottesville (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Charlottesville (city)?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Charlottesville (city).
What county is Charlottesville, VA in?
Charlottesville is in Charlottesville (city), Virginia. About 44,388 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Charlottesville (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 37,129 jobs in 2025 against 41,324 in 2019 (-10.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,800 to 1,379.
Does Charlottesville (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Charlottesville (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.