Albemarle assessments have increased by 6.17 percent in 2026

The average value of real estate in Albemarle County continues to increase, a metric confirmed on January 21, 2026, with the release of property assessments for 2026.

Assessor Peter Lynch told the Board of Supervisors that the county’s tax base has increased by 6.17 percent.

“Albemarle County is a great place to live and people want to live here,” Lynch said. “So values going up is actually a really good thing.”

This is the 13th year in a row that average property values increased in Albemarle with the high-water marks coming during the pandemic. The increase was 8.4 percent in 2022 and 13.46 percent in 2023 before settling down to 4.07 percent in 2024 and 5.09 percent in 2025.

The average median home value in Albemarle is now $516,000.

By Virginia law, property must be assessed at a fair market rate and the figure is based on an evaluation of recent sales and conditions. The county breaks down the averages by property type as well as magisterial districts.

• Urban Residential increased 5.4 percent
• Residential up to 20 acres increased 8.1 percent
• Rural between 20 and 99 acres increased 7.5 percent
• Rural over 100 acres increased 7.1 percent
• Commercial properties were up 3 percent
• Multi-family property went up 4.6 percent

The Samuel Miller District saw the highest increase with a 9.8 percent jump while the Rivanna District saw the smallest with 3.6 percent.

• Jack Jouett values increased 8.3 percent
• Scottsville District assessments were up 5.8 percent
• White Hall assessments were up 5.3 percent
• Rio District values increased 4.5 percent
• Assessments were up 4.1 percent in the Town of Scottsville

Assessments will be mailed to property owners this week and the information will be on the county’s GIS beginning on January 24.

Lynch said he knows Supervisors will be contacted by constituents concerned about their assessment.

“Please just direct them to my office,” Lynch said. “We would certainly love to talk to them and share what we have on their property. The quality of the value that we have created is based on the quality of the data that we have for their property. So if that data has not been updated for some time, it could be stale, it could be, it could be incorrect.”

For those who want to appeal, the first step is to submit an administrative review that is available at this link. It must be filled out by March 2.

The second step if that doesn’t provide a remedy is to request a review by the Board of Equalization.

“The Board of Equalization appeal can be filed by contacting the assessor’s office for an application that must be submitted by March 30, or 30 days after the results of an Administrative Review, whichever is later,” reads an information release sent out by the county.

Lynch also said revalidation of properties in land use taxation is complete and 130 properties did not finish the process. Those have since been returned to the full tax rolls.

The tax assessments are related to but not directly connected to the real estate tax rate. The current rate is $0.894 per $100 of assessed value after Supervisors agreed to County Executive Jeffrey Richardson’s request for a four cent increase in 2025.

Supervisors will informally adopt a tax rate for 2026 early in the budget development process for FY2027 after seeing Richardson’s proposal.

Supervisor Ned Gallaway said he wants to have a discussion of how assessment increases often lead to higher rents for those who live in multifamily buildings.

“I think it’s a 15 minute, 20 minute piece that may be during one of our work sessions in the budget this year,” Gallaway said.

Richardson is expected to present his recommended budget on February 25.

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