Downtown Harrisonburg is a hub of popular restaurants, eclectic local shops and gathering places, where century-old historic buildings and red brick sidewalks line the streets. The neighborhood is less than a mile north of James Madison University, so collegiate spirit shapes the area, and the Duke Dog mascot and purple and gold streamers often decorate storefronts. “It’s not a large area, so it’s very walkable. You always get a good cross-section of the Harrisonburg population hanging out downtown,” says Stephan Gleason, a Realtor who operates the Virginia Mountain to Valley Living YouTube channel with his wife Lesley Gleason, also a Realtor. Local restaurants and businesses appeal to college students and long-established residents alike, as downtown has a mixture of museums, elevated and casual restaurants, breweries and dive bars, trendy small businesses, and places of worship.
Downtown Harrisonburg is a hub of popular restaurants, eclectic shops and gathering places.
Houses sit close to each other on quiet, residential streets in Downtown Harrisonburg.
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Coffee shops, restaurants and breweries in Downtown Harrisonburg
Downtown Harrisonburg is the city’s gathering point. Coffee shops attract groups of college students, remote workers, and locals on coffee dates; sometimes, it can be a challenge to find a table. Coffee Hound, Black Sheep Coffee and Greenberry’s Coffee Co. are popular spots serving espresso, chai lattes and pastries. Magnolia’s Tacos and Tequila Bar has a rooftop seating area and is a popular spot for Mexican fare and margaritas. Close by, there’s Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint for craft beer and burgers with imaginative toppings. Taj of India has ornate, engraved tables and dishware and serves authentic Indian dishes. College students tend to gravitate to Ruby’s Arcade, Finnigan’s Cove Seafood Bar or The Golden Pony to grab drinks, while older residents often sip craft beer at the laidback breweries. Pale Fire Brewing Company, Restless Moons Brewing and Three Notch’d have a relaxed, industrial atmosphere and host casual get-togethers, like trivia nights. Lesley Gleason notes that there are small shops downtown where residents can find unique décor and trinkets. The Shops at Agora is a collection of local vendors who sell clothes and household goods. Next door, “Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade craft store with a program that teaches people in underdeveloped countries skills and then buys the crafts they make from them,” Stephan Gleason says. Locals can find outdoor recreational supplies at Walkabout Outfitter or trendy clothing and accessories at The Yellow Button, a local boutique. The Friendly City Food Co-Op sells fresh produce and organic goods, and residents drive 2 miles southeast to East Market Street to shop at larger supermarkets like Kroger and Aldi.
Coffee Hound is a dog friendly coffee shop serving handcrafted coffee in Downtown Harrisonburg.
Magnolia’s Tacos and Tequila Bar in Downtown Harrisonburg s a popular spot for Mexican fare.
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Townhouses and 19th century bungalows
Several historic buildings downtown were converted into apartments, so many residents rent units in buildings like Keezell Flats and Ice House Apartments. “There are a mix of older homes and rentals downtown. Houses are often remodeled into investment properties,” Stephan Gleason says. Groups of college students will rent some of the multifamily houses, while older residents live in the historic single-family homes. Bungalows from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are priced between $400,000 and $500,000. Townhouses from the mid-20th century are priced between $300,000 and $350,000, while a four-plex from around the same time costs around $550,000.
Downtown Harrisonburg has a few historic buildings that have been converted into condos.
Huge front porches can be found in some of the older homes of Downtown Harrisonburg.
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Block parties and seasonal festivals downtown
The Massanutten Regional Library hosts free community events, like book clubs and children’s story times. Parents can also take their kids to the Explore More Discovery Museum, which has interactive exhibits. Local farmers set up booths at the Turner Pavilion for the Harrisonburg Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday morning, and the city organizes seasonal events that attract residents from all over Harrisonburg. During the summer, locals bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy free concerts at the Turner Pavilion. In June, the Downtown Harrisonburg Renaissance hosts the Best. Weekend. Ever., a festival with crafts, food trucks and live music. In late August, JMU’s marching band leads first-year students downtown for the Block Party in the ‘Burg, an event to welcome Harrisonburg’s newest residents to the city and familiarize them with the local shops and restaurants. In mid-October, locals don costumes and go trick-or-treating at local businesses during the Skeleton Festival. The community welcomes the winter holiday season with a parade and tree lighting in December.
Every Wednesday during the summer Downtown Harrisonburg hosts the free Levitt AMP Music Series.
Local farmers and vendors sell goods at Turner Pavilion for the Harrisonburg Farmers Market.
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Art walks and small green spaces
Liberty Park is the only dedicated section of green space downtown; the small, landscaped rectangle has benches for residents to relax and enjoy the park’s trees and flowerbeds. The Downtown Harrisonburg Renaissance encourages locals to explore the artistic corners of downtown through the guided art walk. Residents can follow the map to appreciate abstract sculptures, intricate mosaics and large, colorful murals as they walk around. JMU’s Quad is another popular green space close by; when the weather heats up, students lay on blankets to study or eat lunch while others throw Frisbees or play fetch with dogs. Other community members will jog around the campus or push strollers around the Quad, especially on weekends and during the summer, when there aren’t as many students around. “Harrisonburg has won awards for being a biking-friendly community. There are trails all around the city and a couple of popular bike shops downtown,” Stephan Gleason says. Residents craving more adventure will drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains to go hiking or mountain biking; the Swift Run Gap Entrance of Shenandoah National Park is about 24 miles southeast of the neighborhood.
Each letter of LOVEworks in Downtown Harrisonburg represents a distinctive strength of the city.
Downtown Harrisonburg has intricate mosaics and large, colorful murals scattered throughout it.
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Walkable streets and convenient bus stops
Those living downtown can walk to restaurants and shops, and people who live near the neighborhood often go downtown on foot. “It’s walkable from dorms, so you’ll see students walking or 'Lime scootering' to head downtown,” Lesley Gleason says. The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation services bus stops; Route 1 loops the city and has stops near the Valley Mall and Walmart. Drivers merge onto Interstate 81, about 2 miles east, to drive north toward Washington, D.C. or south toward Staunton, where they can link with Interstate 64. There aren't any passenger trains in Harrisonburg, but freight trains headed to Shenandoah Valley Organic food processing plant to the north occasionally pass through the neighborhood.
The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation services bus stops throughout Harrisonburg.
Downtown Harrisonburg is very walkable, with most restaurants and shops all within a few blocks.
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James Madison University is under a mile away
Kids can begin at Waterman Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating from Niche. They may progress to Thomas Harrison Middle School, which has a B-minus rating and then Harrisonburg High, which earns a B-plus. High school students may enroll in challenging, problem-based learning courses through the Massanutten Regional Governor’s School. The main campus of James Madison University, a public university best known for its education, health science, and business programs, is under a mile from the neighborhood. Eastern Mennonite University, which has a much smaller student population, is about 2 miles north of downtown. JMU has about 22,000 students, while EMU has about 1,500.
Eagle Field Memorial Park in Downtown Harrisonburg is home of the JMU Dukes softball team.
Near Downtown Harrisonburg is Bridgeforth Stadium, home to JMU's football team.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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Reach out to
Mary Beth Harris,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Liberty Park
Transit
Airport
Charlottesville-Albemarle
70 min drive
Bus
South Main St. & Massanutten Library
Bus
Noll Dr. & Elias Garage
Bus
South Liberty St. & Daily News Record
Bus
North Liberty St. & Third St.
Bus
East Market St. & Urban Exchange
Bus
South Liberty St. & Grattan St.
Bus
North Mason St. & East Rock St.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Harrisonburg
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Downtown Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg over the last 12 months is $275,000, down 11% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mary Beth Harris,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,634
Median Age
27
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
7.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$44,332
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$63,725
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
77.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
20.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7%
% Population in Labor Force
65.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
64/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
91/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
38/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
