Population 66,506 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Harrisonburg
Household size in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.67 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Harrisonburg average 2.67 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has crept up from 2.59 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 32.9, Harrisonburg is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults and children. The median age has climbed from 30.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only seven of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Harrisonburg as they are nationally: 11.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Harrisonburg
Renters in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.6% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 54.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.2% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Harrisonburg rent: 53.2% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 36.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Only 15 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Harrisonburg is close to the national rate: 11.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (8.7%). Vacancy has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Harrisonburg are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $904 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $878 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $963 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,225 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$322 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Harrisonburg runs $1,225 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $322 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Harrisonburg
Bachelor's degrees in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.8% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Harrisonburg than nationally: 39.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.7 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.0% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.6% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Harrisonburg never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Harrisonburg has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Virginia cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Harrisonburg
| Period | Harrisonburg | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Harrisonburg is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (4.3%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Harrisonburg compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | 2.67 | 32.9 | 11.4% | 53.2% | 11.0% | 1985 | $1,225 | 39.8% | 86.6% | 5.9% |
| Massanetta Springs | 2.31 | 45.2 | 10.8% | 27.6% | 5.9% | 2003 | $1,814 | 57.3% | 99.1% | 1.1% |
| Keezletown | 2.95 | 35.5 | 16.0% | 22.7% | 17.6% | 1980 | $1,206 | 18.0% | 87.4% | 2.9% |
| Penn Laird | 2.71 | 43.9 | 15.4% | 20.6% | 9.2% | 1983 | $1,840 | 40.7% | 93.9% | 1.1% |
| Dayton | 2.55 | 41.1 | 10.2% | 22.8% | 9.5% | 1977 | $1,117 | 26.1% | 79.4% | 2.6% |
| Mount Crawford | 2.44 | 40.6 | 6.1% | 25.9% | 8.0% | 1989 | $1,545 | 33.2% | 93.2% | 3.1% |
| Linville | 2.99 | 41.6 | 8.2% | 17.8% | 10.7% | 1985 | $1,170 | 33.3% | 88.3% | 2.4% |
| Hinton | 2.79 | 39.4 | 6.9% | 27.4% | 11.1% | 1971 | $1,062 | 21.1% | 77.2% | 0.7% |
| Bridgewater | 2.45 | 33.6 | 4.4% | 30.7% | 6.3% | 1975 | $1,352 | 40.0% | 90.7% | 2.9% |
| Singers Glen | 3.04 | 41.8 | 3.0% | 18.7% | 14.9% | 1980 | $1,071 | 30.7% | 82.9% | 0.2% |
| Massanutten | 2.47 | 50.7 | 8.8% | 8.0% | 37.3% | 1993 | $1,183 | 52.1% | 96.6% | 1.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Florence, SC · Clarksville, TN · Cincinnati, OH · Concord, CA · Coral Springs, FL · Clifton, NJ · Covington, GA · Corpus Christi, TX · Chino Hills, CA · Chino, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Harrisonburg. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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