Charlottesville, Virginia

Population: 64,197
Cost of Living: 102.5
Median Home Price: $177,840

Charlottesville is home to the University of Virginia, "Mr. Jefferson's University," founded in 1825. Thomas Jefferson designed the original campus and buildings, including the Rotunda pictured here. Downtown, there’s a pedestrian mall with more than 150 shops and restaurants. The Charlottesville Pavilion amphitheater and the newly renovated Paramount Theater provide plenty to satisfy your cultural appetitie. In the spring, the city hosts the annual Virginia Festival of the Book. Even with four distinct seasons, Charlottesville’s climate is mild, allowing
residents to take advantage of outdoor recreation, from golf to
hiking in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Close by: the historic homes of Presidents Jefferson,
James Madison, and James Monroe.