Harrisonburg city, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Harrisonburg city is located in Virginia with a total population of 51,492. It is the 36th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Harrisonburg city is 25.4 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Harrisonburg city is $59,752. This is 34% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 25.6%. This is 158% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $278,200. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 39.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Harrisonburg city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.1%. The Black or African American population (7.0%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (23.1% vs 10.7%). The Asian population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

36.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.3%. Notably, 17.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.