Median Income
$56,050
household / year
Median Home Value
$263,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,060
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100

Is Harrisonburg, VA a Good Place to Live?

Harrisonburg is a mid-sized city of 51,784 in Virginia, with a median household income of $56,050 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Harrisonburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Harrisonburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Harrisonburg city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.2

Harrisonburg's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Harrisonburg costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric Harrisonburg, VA National Avg
Median Home Value $263,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,060 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 38.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $56,050 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Harrisonburg's violent crime rate is 267.2 per 100,000 residents — 30% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
267.2 /100k
Property Crime
1693.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Harrisonburg is served primarily by Harrisonburg City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Harrisonburg, VA National Avg
School District Harrisonburg City Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 6 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 35.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 83.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Harrisonburg sees average highs of 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation and 19.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricHarrisonburg, VA
Average High — January42.1°F
Average High — July86.0°F
Annual Precipitation42.8"
Annual Snowfall19.4"

Demographics

MetricHarrisonburg, VANational Avg
Population51,784—
Median Age25.438.9
Unemployment Rate6.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time17.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)71.0%59.3%
Black or African American7.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino12.3%18.9%
Asian3.2%6.3%
Under 1816.4%22.2%
65 and over9.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Belmont Estates, VA 3 mi Massanetta Springs, VA 4 mi Dayton, VA 4 mi Keezletown, VA 4 mi Linville, VA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg, VA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

22801 22802 22807

Harrisonburg vs Other Cities

Harrisonburg, VA vs Belmont Estates, VA Harrisonburg, VA vs Massanetta Springs, VA Harrisonburg, VA vs Dayton, VA Harrisonburg, VA vs Keezletown, VA Harrisonburg, VA vs Linville, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Harrisonburg's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Harrisonburg roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $263,700 and median rent is $1,060/month.
Harrisonburg's violent crime rate is 267.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1693.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Harrisonburg are operated by Harrisonburg City Public Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Harrisonburg, VA has a population of 51,784, a median household income of $56,050, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Harrisonburg averages 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.8 inches with about 19.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Harrisonburg, VA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 22801, 22802, 22807.
The population of Harrisonburg, Virginia is 51,784 with a median age of 25.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Harrisonburg: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $263,700, median household income $56,050, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Harrisonburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.