Is Harrisonburg Virginia A Good Place To Live?

Definition of "Is Harrisonburg Virginia a good place to live?"

Harrisonburg, this autonomous city surrounded by Rockingham County, offers a tiny city’s ‘Americana’ charms and vibes with countless cosmopolitan perks. Let’s investigate what the significant advantages of living in Harrisonburg are!

‘Breaking into’ the Harrisonburg housing market is difficult.

Suppose you’re interested in relocating to this dynamically developing region. Moving to Harrisonburg presupposes finding a reasonably priced home in the city. Then, the next logical step is giving a shout-out to skilled local real estate agents in Harrisonburg VA

Nevertheless, this is where one of the current disadvantages emerges, and house-hunters have to be prepared. The phenomenon called lack of cost-effective housing inventory characterizes the Harrisonburg local real estate market. It appeared in 2021, and the problem also seems to persist in 2022. 

As of June 2022, the median home selling price was about $300,000, defining an increase of 27.5 percent since last year. Unfortunately, buyers don’t have many options to choose from. For this reason, sellers tend to drive property prices up in a highly competitive market, making things worse.

Encounter promising economic prospects in the city!

The real estate market wouldn’t be so competitively priced if the local economy in Harrisonburg had not experienced genuine success. Though our charming city is independent, many consider it one of Virginia’s most promising regions.

Unemployment rate and future job growth

Harrisonburg achieved great numbers according to the most significant economic indicator, namely the unemployment rate. With a 5.2 percent rate, the town has outshined the national average of six percent, an awe-inspiring achievement. In addition, short-term and future economic development is predicted to bring more opportunities for job-seekers. Moreover, Harrisonburg will surpass the national average for future job increases as well. 

Did you know that the cost of living in Harrisonburg is more affordable than the US average by about 10 percent and the Virginia median by six percent?  

How are the wages in Harrisonburg?

The only moderate downside is that the annual average base salary in Harrisonburg of about $57,700 somewhat lags behind the US average of $59,500 in 2022, according to SalaryExpert.

The town offers the ultimate recreation.

Seeing Harrisonburg is love at first sight. Though smaller than the Virginia big guns (Virginia Beach and Richmond), you’ll find plenty of must-see places and recreation opportunities in and around Rocktown to have the time of your life! The city showcases some of Virginia’s most breathtaking natural beauties, notably the Shenandoah National Park in Shenandoah Valley. 

What are the cons of living in Harrisonburg, Virginia?

Currently, the city faces relatively sprawling economic progress that has created new challenges. Since many newcomers arrived in town, they are liable to point out a limited shopping experience with lacking high-end groceries. For this reason, locals choose to go to Charlottesville and the more metropolitan Richmond as a viable alternative.

Secondly, traffic can be a major bummer since the transportation system and infrastructure can’t keep up with this fast economic pace. Yet, traffic jams aren’t as severe as in some parts of Northern Virginia. New roads and extra lanes are being inaugurated regularly to mend this situation.

Conclusion

As you noticed, the advantages of living in Harrisonburg clearly outweigh the negative aspects. Otherwise, the population would decrease dramatically instead of showing a growing tendency yearly.

Before moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia, all you have to know is that its livability score is exceptionally high. You’ll have plenty of remarkable job opportunities to choose from, thus advancing your career in the right direction. At the same time, you’ll enjoy a generally low cost of living. Besides, you can spend your free time actively in the numerous parks and nationally acclaimed recreational facilities! And don’t worry about the housing issues, either, because expert local realtors in Harrisonburg will devise a solution on a budget!

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Questions

Popular Real Estate Glossary Terms

The profit or loss from selling an investment that is held one year or less. Short-term gains are ordinary income, while short-term losses are deducted from current income. Short-term gains ...

Adobe construction is one of the oldest types of construction that has been used in the Americas, ancient Egypt, and the Middle East to build long-lasting structures that can be seen even ...

Negative characteristics about real property which do not meet the needs of the usual occupant. Examples are inadequate lighting in the rooms and a one-car garage when a two-car garage is ...

Contractual agreement between a commercial or industrial rental property owner and an individual or firm who agrees to maintain the property. Management agreements specify the nature of ...

Geographic location by itself with designated boundaries. An example is a district. ...

Fee a borrower is assessed for the right to make a loan payment before the due date. An example is the prepayment charge for paying-off a mortgage early. ...

Construction method where reinforced concrete is used with concrete block and mortar to form an extremely strong building. Reinforced concrete construction is often used in conjunction ...

Rule of thumb approach used to determine how long it takes to double an investment in real estate. Under this approach, dividing the number 72 by the fixed rate of return equals the ...

There’s a lot of confusion regarding the hazard insurance definition. Many people think it’s a synonym for homeowners insurance but they’re wrong. Hazard insurance is ...