Charlottesville
Safe Democratic — 261K residents — 6 counties
| Group | % |
|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 73.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 6.8% |
▶Black / African American(14) | 10.6% |
▶Asian(6) | 4.2% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8) | 0.6% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.2% |
Multiracial / Other | 5.0% |
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | 19.2% | 49.3% |
| Catholic | 8.2% | 21.1% |
| Mainline Protestant | 7.9% | 20.3% |
| Other | 3.2% | 8.2% |
| LDS (Mormon) | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Black Protestant | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Orthodox Christian | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Non-religious | 61.1% | — |
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Harris+17.6 |
| 2020 | Biden+19.9 |
| 2016 | Clinton+14.2 |
| 2012 | Obama+9.5 |
| 2008 | Obama+14.4 |
| 2004 | Bush+0.7 |
| 2000 | Bush+5.5 |
| 1996 | Dole+0.6 |
| 1992 | Clinton+1.4 |
Charlottesville is a media market that has a population of 261,469. In the 2024 presidential election, it voted Democratic with a margin of D+17.6. Akashic Edge tracks 39 presidential elections here, dating back to 1872.
| Year | Dem % | Rep % | Margin | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58.1% | 40.5% | D+17.6 | R+2.3 |
| 2020 | 59.0% | 39.1% | D+19.9 | D+5.7 |
| 2016 | 53.8% | 39.6% | D+14.2 | D+4.7 |
| 2012 | 53.9% | 44.4% | D+9.5 | R+4.9 |
| 2008 | 56.6% | 42.2% | D+14.4 | D+15.1 |
| 2004 | 49.1% | 49.8% | R+0.7 | D+4.8 |
| 2000 | 44.2% | 49.7% | R+5.5 | R+4.9 |
| 1996 | 46.0% | 46.6% | R+0.6 | R+2.0 |
| 1992 | 44.0% | 42.6% | D+1.4 | D+15.1 |
| 1988 | 42.5% | 56.2% | R+13.7 | D+8.5 |
| 1984 | 38.6% | 60.9% | R+22.3 | R+12.8 |
| 1980 | 40.7% | 50.1% | R+9.4 | R+4.5 |
| 1976 | 46.2% | 51.2% | R+4.9 | D+26.6 |
| 1972 | 33.4% | 65.0% | R+31.5 | R+9.5 |
| 1968 | 28.0% | 50.0% | R+22.1 | R+23.4 |
| 1964 | 50.5% | 49.1% | D+1.3 | D+16.9 |
| 1960 | 41.6% | 57.1% | R+15.5 | D+11.7 |
| 1956 | 31.2% | 58.5% | R+27.3 | R+4.6 |
| 1952 | 38.4% | 61.2% | R+22.7 | R+24.3 |
| 1948 | 45.1% | 43.5% | D+1.6 | — |
What defines Charlottesville?
Charlottesville has been won by both parties in the last 6 presidential elections (5D, 1R) — a genuine swing geography. It has a predominantly white, college-educated electorate that has shifted sharply toward Democrats in the Trump era.
Constituent Counties
Similar media markets
Counties in Charlottesville
Ask the Historian
Key Insights
- Has voted Democratic in the last 5 presidential elections
- Won by both parties in recent history — Democrats most recently in 2024, Republicans in 2004
- College attainment is 50% — 17pp above the national average. Similar education levels correlate with Democratic lean nationally
Who Lives Here
| Group | Charlottesville | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 73.2% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(14) | 10.6% | 12.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 6.8% | 19.3% |
Multiracial / Other | 5.0% | 4.0% |
▶Asian(6) | 4.2% | 6.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(8) | 0.6% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.2% | 0.9% |
Religious Adherents
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -32.7pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.2% | 49.3% | — | — | |
| 8.2% | 21.1% | — | — | |
| 7.9% | 20.3% | — | — | |
| 3.2% | 8.2% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 1.1% | 2.8% | — | — |
| 0.3% | 0.9% | — | — | |
| 0.1% | 0.3% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 61.1% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Charlottesville media market? 261,469 residents across 6 counties.
Demographics
50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 17pp above the national average. Places with similar education levels vote D+25 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
Turnout in Charlottesville
How competitive is Charlottesville?
Do voters in Charlottesville split their tickets?
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Senate | D+17.6 | D+18.6 | 1.0pp |