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Area Guide

James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA

Experience the unique culture surrounding this prestigious Virginia university

Public College Town Urban

James Madison University is regularly lauded as one of the best public universities in the south, cultivating an environment that encourages innovation and creativity as well as strong traditions and culture. Students at JMU account for around one-third of the total population in Harrisonburg, and the university is literally and figuratively the center of the community. The small-town atmosphere surrounding the campus means you’ll soon pick out your favorite go-to local spots, whether it’s breakfast at Mr. J’s or giant slices at Sorrentino’s Pizza. Perched in the northern Virginia foothills, you’re just minutes away from the region’s stunningly gorgeous natural landscape… be sure to hit the road on Skyline Drive at least once during the autumn for the prettiest foliage this side of Vermont. The rental options around the campus come in a variety of price ranges with many options available to suit any budget. Apartments, condos, and rental houses near the north side of campus offer convenient access to both the main university buildings and Downtown Harrisonburg, while the neighborhoods on the east side of campus will be more convenient to the nearby shopping centers.

Rent Trends

As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Harrisonburg, VA is $1,304 for a studio, $1,289 for one bedroom, $1,600 for two bedrooms, and $1,880 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Harrisonburg has increased by 2.7% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 410 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,304/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 664 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,289/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,048 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,600/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,311 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,880/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Good Public Transit

Transit

60 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Daily Essentials

Supermarket Within a 15 Minute Walk

Groceries

60 / 100

Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

50 / 100

Fair Café Variety Nearby

Cafes

50 / 100

Good Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

60 / 100

Local Vibe

Mostly Calm Atmosphere

Vibrancy

30 / 100

Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby

Nightlife

20 / 100

Schools

Waterman Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

530 Students

Waterman Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

530 Students

Keister Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

526 Students

Keister Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

526 Students

Smithland Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

730 Students

Thomas Harrison Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

693 Students

Thomas Harrison Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

693 Students

Skyline Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

697 Students

Skyline Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

697 Students

Harrisonburg High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,951 Students

Harrisonburg High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,951 Students

Massanutten Tech Center

Public

Grades K-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • John C. Wells Planetarium
  • Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
  • Harrisonburg Children's Museum
  • Paul State Forest
  • Massanutten Resort

Airports

  • Charlottesville-Albemarle

Top Apartments Near James Madison University

Houses Near James Madison University

Property Management Companies

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.