City · Virginia

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Harrisonburg, city, in Harrisonburg city, Virginia. Harrisonburg had 50,839 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 51,814 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 51,392 (controlled total). GEOID 5135624.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

50,839

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 51,814 · ACS 2020-2024: 51,392

Median household income

$62,254

±$4,131 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170

Median home value

$299,100

±$12,261 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700

Median gross rent

$1,184

±$52 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579

Where is Harrisonburg and what county is it in?

Harrisonburg is a city in Harrisonburg city, Virginia. It covers 17.3 square miles of land, 2,989 residents per square mile in 2020.

Harrisonburg is in the Harrisonburg, VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Harrisonburg covers the same area as Harrisonburg city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Harrisonburg's; the county page lists its census tracts.

Harrisonburg (marked with a dot) in Harrisonburg city, Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Harrisonburg, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 50,839 people lived in Harrisonburg on July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 51,814 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 51,392.

  • July 2020→2021 −247 (51,451)
  • 2021→2022 −440 (51,011)
  • 2022→2023 −35 (50,976)
  • 2023→2024 −184 (50,792)
  • 2024→2025 +47 (50,839)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure HarrisonburgVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 51,392 8,705,170 −1,881
Households 17,360 ±299 3,365,732 +637
Average household size 2.54 ±0.04 2.52 −0.21
Housing units 18,667 ±70 3,684,756 +406

Harrisonburg's population since 2000

From 40,468 in 2000 to 50,839 in 2025: up 25.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Harrisonburg as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 40,468
  • 2005 (estimate) 44,572
  • 2010 Census 48,914
  • 2015 (estimate) 52,739
  • 2020 Census 51,814
  • 2025 (estimate) 50,839

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Harrisonburg?

The median resident of Harrisonburg is 25.0 years old; 17.3% are under 18 and 10.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.6%. 17.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure HarrisonburgVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 25.0 ±0.2 39.0 −0.4
Under 18 years 17.3% ±0.1 pts 21.7% –
65 years and over 10.5% ±0.5 pts 16.7% –
Male 48.6% ±0.3 pts 49.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.6% 11.0% +3.9 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 60.8% ±0.4 pts 58.4% −5.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 7.2% ±0.7 pts 18.3% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 3.5% ±0.4 pts 6.9% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.2% ±0.6 pts 4.7% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.4 pts 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 17.8% ±1.7 pts 13.1% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 28.4% ±1.5 pts 17.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.5% ±0.6 pts 9.4% –
With a disability 10.4% ±1.1 pts 12.5% –
No health insurance coverage 10.5% ±1.5 pts 6.9% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 84.3% ±2.0 pts 91.6% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 37.5% ±2.3 pts 42.2% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 18.7% ±2.2 pts 18.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 75.0% ±2.1 pts 86.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 3.8% ±0.8 pts 3.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Harrisonburg earn?

Half of Harrisonburg's 17,360 households earn less than $62,254 a year (±$4,131), against $62,254 in Harrisonburg city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $57,448 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure HarrisonburgVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $62,254 ±$4,131 $93,170 no clear change
Mean household income $82,014 ±$4,134 $128,260 –
Per capita income $28,857 ±$1,566 $50,666 no clear change
People below the poverty line 25.7% ±2.0 pts 9.9% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 21.8% ±6.0 pts 12.3% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 10.9% ±2.2 pts 9.1% –
Households with a computer 96.1% ±1.2 pts 95.4% –
Households with a broadband subscription 85.9% ±2.4 pts 91.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Harrisonburg?

Owners occupy 39.5% of Harrisonburg's occupied homes and renters 60.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $299,100 by its owner (±$12,261). The median renter pays $1,184 a month including utilities, and 39.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure HarrisonburgVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $299,100 ±$12,261 $383,700 +$48,531
Median gross rent $1,184 ±$52 $1,579 +$97
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 39.9% ±3.9 pts 39.4% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,552 ±$79 $2,127 –
Owner-occupied homes 39.5% ±2.4 pts 67.3% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 60.5% ±2.4 pts 32.7% –
Housing units 18,667 ±70 3,684,756 +406
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.8% ±1.0 pts 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 2.2% ±1.4 pts 4.8% –
Single-family detached homes 36.9% ±2.6 pts 61.3% –
Mobile homes 0.7% ±0.4 pts 4.3% –
Built 2020 or later 1.5% ±0.6 pts 1.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 10.4% ±1.7 pts 9.9% –
Built 1939 or earlier 7.6% ±1.3 pts 7.0% –
Households with no vehicle 6.5% ±1.3 pts 6.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Harrisonburg building?

Builders took permits for 162 new housing units in Harrisonburg in 2025 (158 in single-family houses), 3.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.

  • 2019 73 units
  • 2020 60 units
  • 2021 36 units
  • 2022 55 units
  • 2023 (11 months) 80 units
  • 2024 87 units
  • 2025 162 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Harrisonburg work and get to work?

67.9% of Harrisonburg's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure HarrisonburgVirginia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 61.9% ±1.6 pts 65.4% –
Unemployment rate 6.9% ±1.4 pts 4.3% +2.0 pts
Drove alone to work 67.9% ±2.6 pts 67.6% –
Carpooled 13.6% ±2.1 pts 8.0% –
Public transportation 1.8% ±0.7 pts 2.3% –
Walked 5.2% ±0.9 pts 2.1% –
Worked from home 9.1% ±1.4 pts 18.3% +4.8 pts
Mean travel time to work 17.1 min ±1.1 27.3 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Harrisonburg?

11 census tracts lie mostly in Harrisonburg (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $30,250 (Tract 2.07) to $103,125 (Tract 2.06).

Census tracts in Harrisonburg, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Harrisonburg
Tract 4.02Harrisonburg city6,418 $60,264 $278,300100%
Tract 2.07Harrisonburg city6,102 $30,250 $521,400100%
Tract 3.02Harrisonburg city5,814 $54,238 $266,300100%
Tract 2.05Harrisonburg city5,734 $67,689 $285,300100%
Tract 1.02Harrisonburg city5,508 $82,004 $306,800100%
Tract 2.04Harrisonburg city4,837 $69,957 $457,800100%
Tract 2.06Harrisonburg city4,586 $103,125 $450,000100%
Tract 1.01Harrisonburg city4,316 $55,651 $217,500100%
Tract 3.01Harrisonburg city3,295 $96,369 $340,400100%
Tract 4.01Harrisonburg city3,050 $51,490 $291,200100%
Tract 2.03Harrisonburg city1,732 $88,333 $321,700100%

Every census tract in Harrisonburg: the tract table of Harrisonburg city

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Harrisonburg) · Census block assignment files

How does Harrisonburg compare with other places in Virginia?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Harrisonburg is the 805th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 12th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.

Harrisonburg ranks 263rd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Harrisonburg's rank in Virginia (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate12th227
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)106th139
Residents per square mile100th374
Median household income263rd365
Per capita income319th374
Median home value200th359
Median gross rent205th341
Poverty rate16th263
Bachelor's degree or higher170th359
Median age356th372
Owner-occupied share348th368
Work from home246th286
Travel time to work351st372

Harrisonburg's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)

Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Harrisonburg with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Harrisonburg?

3 of the 57 figures for Harrisonburg on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Harrisonburg are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Harrisonburg.