Living here
Blacksburg or Christiansburg?
Two neighboring towns in Montgomery County, side by side: taxes, housing, schools and how you get between them. Just the facts.
The short version
- Blacksburg and Christiansburg are neighboring towns in Montgomery County, linked by US 460, Blacksburg Transit and the Huckleberry Trail.
- 2026 real estate tax inside town limits: $1.07 per $100 in Blacksburg and $0.95 in Christiansburg, county rate included.
- In the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey, 36% of occupied homes in Blacksburg were owner-occupied, compared with 60% in Christiansburg.
At a glance
| Blacksburg | Christiansburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2020 Census | 44,826 | 23,348 |
| Population estimate, July 1, 2025 | 45,104 | 22,442 |
| Owner-occupied homes (2020-2024) | 36% | 60% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes (2020-2024) | $446,300 | $252,600 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020-2024) | 14.8 minutes | 18.1 minutes |
| Town real estate tax, 2026 | $0.26 per $100 | $0.14 per $100 |
| County real estate tax, 2026 | $0.81 per $100 | $0.81 per $100 |
| Town tax due | June and December | December 5 |
| Public schools | Montgomery County Public Schools | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| Fare-free Blacksburg Transit | Yes | Yes |
Census figures cover each town's limits. Home values in the Census survey are five-year estimates, so they lag current sale prices.
Taxes, side by side
Both towns sit inside Montgomery County, so every home pays the county rate of $0.81 per $100 for 2026. Each town then adds its own rate inside its limits. On the same assessed value, here is the annual bill, using the Blacksburg median sale price of the last 12 months, $460,000:
$4,922
Inside Blacksburg town limits
$1.07 per $100
$4,370
Inside Christiansburg town limits
$0.95 per $100
$3,726
County, outside either town
$0.81 per $100
The Town of Blacksburg taxes real estate only. Christiansburg's tax rate page also lists a town personal property tax, on top of the county's. The property tax guide covers due dates and the 2027 reassessment.
Homes in Blacksburg right now
Here is what is on the market in Blacksburg today.
123
Homes for sale in Blacksburg
$515,000
Median asking price
$460,000
Median sale price
Last 12 months
By type, today's Blacksburg listings are 67% houses, 24% townhomes and 7% condos. See houses, townhomes and condos for sale.
Getting between them
By car. US 460 runs as a limited-access highway from I-81 at Exit 118, by Christiansburg, to the Virginia Tech campus, about 8.5 miles to the Prices Fork Road exit for downtown Blacksburg.
By bus. Blacksburg Transit serves both towns and is fare-free. The Smart Way bus to Roanoke stops at Laurel Street in Christiansburg and on Main Street in downtown Blacksburg.
By bike or on foot. The paved Huckleberry Trail runs about 7.5 miles from its downtown Blacksburg trailhead to Christiansburg.
Schools in each town
Montgomery County Public Schools runs the public schools in both towns. Assignment depends on the address, so confirm any home with MCPS.
| Level | Blacksburg addresses | Christiansburg addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Gilbert Linkous Elementary, Harding Avenue Elementary, Kipps Elementary, Margaret Beeks Elementary, Price's Fork Elementary | Christiansburg Primary, Christiansburg Elementary, Falling Branch Elementary |
| Middle | Blacksburg Middle | Christiansburg Middle |
| High | Blacksburg High | Christiansburg High |
Addresses and phone numbers are in the schools guide.
Questions, answered
Are property taxes lower in Christiansburg or Blacksburg?
For 2026, the Town of Christiansburg's real estate rate is $0.14 per $100 and the Town of Blacksburg's is $0.26. Both add to Montgomery County's $0.81, for $0.95 in Christiansburg and $1.07 in Blacksburg.
How far is Blacksburg from Christiansburg?
The Huckleberry Trail runs about 7.5 miles from downtown Blacksburg to Christiansburg. By car, US 460 connects I-81 Exit 118, by Christiansburg, with downtown Blacksburg in about 8.5 miles.
Do Blacksburg and Christiansburg share a school system?
Yes. Montgomery County Public Schools runs the public schools in both towns. Each town has its own elementary, middle and high schools, and the address decides the assignment.
Sources
Every fact in this guide that is not a market number comes from an official or primary source below, checked on the date shown. Market numbers come from listing and sales data. Something out of date? Tell us.
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Blacksburg town, Christiansburg town and Montgomery County, VirginiaChecked October 13, 2026
- Montgomery County Commissioner of the Revenue: current tax rates for 2026Checked October 13, 2026
- Town of Blacksburg: tax ratesChecked October 13, 2026
- Town of Blacksburg: taxesChecked October 13, 2026
- Town of Christiansburg: tax ratesChecked October 13, 2026
- Virginia Tech: directions to Virginia TechChecked October 13, 2026
- Blacksburg Transit: fare informationChecked October 13, 2026
- Blacksburg Transit: about BTChecked October 13, 2026
- Valley Metro: Smart Way busChecked October 13, 2026
- Montgomery County Parks and Recreation: Huckleberry TrailChecked October 13, 2026
- Virginia Tech News: New River Valley breaks ground on passenger rail (May 2, 2025)Checked October 13, 2026
- Montgomery County Public Schools: school contact informationChecked October 13, 2026