Harrisonburg, VA Local Data & Statistics

State: VA

Total population: 51,392 Household income: $62,254 Rent: $1,184

Overview

Total population

51,392

Rent

$1,184

Year built

1987

Household income

$62,254

Per capita income

$28,857

Poverty rate

25.7%

Unemployment rate

2.7%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Virginia

Total population

51,392

Adults over 25

25,732

Total households

17,360

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$62,254

Per capita income

$28,857

Poverty rate

25.7%

Unemployment rate

2.7%

Rent over 30% of income

44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,184

Year built

1987

Households that rent

60.5%

Households that own

39.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

64.3%

Black

7.7%

Asian

3.6%

Two or more races

15.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

23.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

76.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.9%

Commute time to work

17 mins

Work from home

9.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25%

High school graduate or GED

23.6%

Some college or associate degree

13.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

37.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Harrisonburg, VA with: Virginia United States

Harrisonburg, VA

Total population51,392

Rent$1,184

Year built1987

Household income$62,254

Per capita income$28,857

Poverty rate25.7%

Unemployment rate2.7%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityHarrisonburg, VA	StateVirginia	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,392	8,705,170	334,922,499
Rent	$1,184	$1,579	$1,413
Year built	1987	1984	1980
Household income	$62,254	$93,170	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,857	$50,666	$44,673
Poverty rate	25.7%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.7%	2.8%	4%

View the complete comparison of Harrisonburg, VA, Virginia and United States →

Summary for Harrisonburg, VA

Harrisonburg is located in Virginia.

Rent & Income

In Harrisonburg, the typical monthly rent is $1,184 and the typical household income is $62,254. Rent here is lower than in both Virginia and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 25.7%, which is higher than in both Virginia and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 60.5% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 44.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 37.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is similar to Virginia and lower than the national rate.

Harrisonburg, VA — Rent vs Household Income

Harrisonburg, VA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Harrisonburg, VA compares in Virginia (24 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,184	5 / 24	from lower rent	$996 – $2,089
Household income	$62,254	17 / 24	from higher income	$55,378 – $119,681
Poverty rate	25.7%	23 / 24	from lower poverty	7.9% – 25.7%
Unemployment rate	2.7%	7 / 24	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Virginia with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Harrisonburg, VA

Rent

Rent prices put Harrisonburg in 5th place among 24 large communities in Virginia. Across Virginia, rents range from $996 in Roanoke, VA up to $2,089 in Alexandria, VA.

Household income

For median household income, Harrisonburg is ranked 17th out of 24 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $55,378 in Roanoke, VA to $119,681 in Alexandria, VA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Harrisonburg ranks 23rd out of 24 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 7.9% in Alexandria, VA to 25.7% in Harrisonburg, VA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Harrisonburg ranks 7th out of 24 significant areas. Across Virginia, unemployment varies from 2.2% in Alexandria, VA to 3.7% in Portsmouth, VA.

💰 Rent in Harrisonburg, VA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,184 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Harrisonburg, VA

Annual Household Income: $62,254

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Harrisonburg, VA

Estimated Rate: 25.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Harrisonburg, VA

In Harrisonburg, VA, households that rent: 10,505 (60.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,505	60.5%
Owner-Occupied	6,855	39.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Harrisonburg, VA

In Harrisonburg, VA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,682 (44.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,682	44.6%
Other renter households	5,823	55.4%
Total renter households	10,505	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Harrisonburg, VA

Less than High School: 6,426 people (25%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 6,081 people (23.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,588 people (13.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 9,637 people (37.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 25,732

📊 Unemployment Rate in Harrisonburg, VA

Estimated Rate: 2.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Little Elm, TX51,426 Glendora, CA51,350 Mooresville, NC51,447 Burien, WA51,331 Aliso Viejo, CA51,320 Summerville, SC51,262 Palm Desert, CA51,551 Dunwoody, GA51,563 Collierville, TN51,212 Wake Forest, NC51,199

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.