What it's like to live in Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg is a smaller city in Virginia with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Harrisonburg deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Harrisonburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Harrisonburg
Based on Harrisonburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,368
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,360 a year
- 45% of Harrisonburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,910
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 16% below US
$1,184/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,184 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $299,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $299,100 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 36% below US
211 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1401/100k · Harrisonburg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 34% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.1 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Shenandoah National Park (22 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Harrisonburg's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,184/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Harrisonburg
All Virginia guides →Moving to Staunton →
22 mi away · pop. 25,948
Rent $1,024/mo · Income $65,581
Compare with Harrisonburg →Moving to Waynesboro →
25 mi away · pop. 22,841
Rent $1,020/mo · Income $59,994
Compare with Harrisonburg →Moving to Stuarts Draft →
30 mi away · pop. 11,780
Rent $1,201/mo · Income $79,332
Compare with Harrisonburg →Moving to Charlottesville →
35 mi away · pop. 45,437
Rent $1,540/mo · Income $74,824
Compare with Harrisonburg →Not sure Harrisonburg is the one?
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