How much does it cost to rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Harrisonburg, VA is $1,848. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Harrisonburg cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Harrisonburg falls in the middle range for Virginia, ranking #52 out of 83 cities at $1,848/mo.

When was Harrisonburg rent data last updated?

Harrisonburg rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Harrisonburg

Name: Average Rent Prices in Harrisonburg, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 51,392·52nd most expensive in Virginia·Harrisonburg rents are up 12.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,848/mo

Year-over-Year

+12.8%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

-$117

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Harrisonburg · $1,848

More affordable than 51% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Harrisonburg's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,848/mo

Expected by trend

$1,869/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Harrisonburg's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,130

2 BR

$1,445

3 BR

$1,955

4 BR+

$2,400

Research median

$1,445/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$22,176/yr

At $1,848/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 12.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+12.8% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Harrisonburg, VA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 37.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

51,392

Median income

$62,254

Median age

Renters

60.5%

Age distribution

17.3%

44.3%

20.4%

Under 1817.3%

18–3444.3%

35–5420.4%

55–647.4%

65+10.5%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

64.3%

23.6%

White64.3%

Black7.7%

Hispanic23.6%

Asian3.6%

Other0.9%

Education (25+)

15.7%

23.6%

23.2%

37.5%

No HS diploma15.7%

HS diploma23.6%

Some college23.2%

Bachelor's+37.5%

Housing tenure

39.5%

60.5%

Owner39.5%

Renter60.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Harrisonburg, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,159 → $1,848

up 59.4%

Income

$51,055 → $62,254

up 21.9%

Population

52,062 → 51,392

down 1.3%

Renter share

60.5% → 60.5%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

34.5% → 37.5%

+3.0 pts

Median age

25.5 → 25

-0.5 yrs

The median rent in Harrisonburg, VA stood at $1,159 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,848, reflecting a 59.4% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $51,055 to $62,254 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.9% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.3% since 2021, moving from about 52,062 residents to roughly 51,392. College-educated residents now make up 37.5% of adults here, versus 34.5% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Harrisonburg, VA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Harrisonburg

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View Harrisonburg rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Harrisonburg on your salary?

At $1,848/mo, how Harrisonburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Harrisonburg rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Harrisonburg. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Harrisonburg

About renting in Harrisonburg, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Harrisonburg is $1,848/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,445/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,130/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,955/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($62,254/yr), Harrisonburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Harrisonburg an affordable city for renters?

Harrisonburg is considered moderate for renters. At $1,848/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($62,254/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Harrisonburg slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Harrisonburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $74,000/year (~$36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,848/mo in Harrisonburg. The local median household income is $62,254/yr, meaning the typical Harrisonburg household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Harrisonburg?

Rent in Harrisonburg has increased 12.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Harrisonburg neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Harrisonburg are 22802 ($1,657/mo), and 22801 ($1,947/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Harrisonburg is $1,848/mo.

How does Harrisonburg rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Harrisonburg is middle-of-the-pack for Virginia for rent, ranking #52 out of 83 tracked cities at $1,848/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Harrisonburg?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Harrisonburg ($1,848/mo): Staunton ($1,581/mo), Waynesboro ($1,602/mo), Fishersville ($1,795/mo).

What percentage of Harrisonburg residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 60.5% of Harrisonburg households are renters, while 39.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Harrisonburg has a strong rental market.

How does Harrisonburg rent compare to the national average?

Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,848/mo is $117 (6%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #52 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $1,848/mo, rent takes ~36% of Harrisonburg's median household income ($62,254/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Harrisonburg 36%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Harrisonburg affordability calculator →

Nearby cities