The Town FilesHarrisonburg, Virginia
City in Harrisonburg city · population 51,814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,100
- Household income
- $62,254
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 25.0
Harrisonburg is a city of 51,814 people in Harrisonburg city, Virginia. The median home is worth $299,100, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 94% of Virginia towns, hipper than 94% of Virginia towns.
How Harrisonburg ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Harrisonburg is worth $299,100, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $62,254, which is more affordable than 19% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,184 a month. 39.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisonburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,184 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $62,254 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 39.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Harrisonburg
| People | Harrisonburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 91.8% |
Weather in Harrisonburg
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 39.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisonburg since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 5, 1952 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Harrisonburg city since 1996
Harrisonburg city has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Harrisonburg city
Harrisonburg city had 31,039 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,381 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Harrisonburg itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Harrisonburg
14 public schools with 7,702 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg High | 9-12 | 1,993 | 16.9 |
| Smithland Elementary | PK-5 | 727 | 15.5 |
| Skyline Middle | 6-8 | 719 | 12.4 |
| Thomas Harrison Middle | 6-8 | 716 | 12.1 |
| Bluestone Elementary | PK-5 | 560 | 14.0 |
| Waterman Elementary | PK-5 | 559 | 14.7 |
| Stone Spring Elementary | PK-5 | 553 | 14.6 |
| Keister Elementary | PK-5 | 496 | 15.0 |
| Spotswood Elementary | PK-5 | 463 | 14.5 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 443 | 14.8 |
| Pleasant Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 248 | 14.6 |
| Lacey Spring Elementary | PK-5 | 225 | 12.5 |
Towns near Harrisonburg
- Massanetta Springs, VA3.6 mi · 6,384 people · home $467,700
- Bridgewater, VA5.9 mi · 6,596 people · home $384,700
- Weyers Cave, VA11.0 mi · 2,700 people · home $283,800
- Grottoes, VA11.8 mi · 2,899 people · home $275,700
- Broadway, VA12.5 mi · 4,170 people · home $284,300
- Elkton, VA14.0 mi · 2,941 people · home $246,800
- Timberville, VA14.6 mi · 2,963 people · home $231,000
- Verona, VA18.3 mi · 4,398 people · home $256,200
Harrisonburg questions
Is Harrisonburg, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisonburg scores better for retirees than 8% of Virginia towns and quieter than 8%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.0).
How much does a house cost in Harrisonburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisonburg is valued at $299,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,254, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,184 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisonburg?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.0 inches of precipitation a year and 19.4 inches of snow.
Does Harrisonburg get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisonburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 5, 1952. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)