Harrisonburg, VA
Census place 5135624 · pop 51,392
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
39.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
25.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-3.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
13.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$62,254 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,818/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
25.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$299,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
37.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.76% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
34/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Harrisonburg: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Harrisonburg, VA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Harrisonburg scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is poor mental health. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Harrisonburg, VA expensive to live in?
- Harrisonburg has a median home value of $299,100 and typical rent around $1,818/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Harrisonburg, VA?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.9%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Harrisonburg, VA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (34/100) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: A Shenandoah Valley college town and home of James Madison University.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.