Harrisonburg: Demographics & People
51,392 people call Harrisonburg home, in 17,360 households. Population shrank 0.2% from 51,492 (2022) to 51,392 (2024). Median age 25.0 years. (12.8y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 61% White (non-Hispanic) and 24% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 50% of households are family-led. County is losing 2,151 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 3.0 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 50% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 39 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.2% from 51,492 (2022) to 51,392 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~51,294 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 51,814 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 51,492 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 51,392 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 51,392 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 51,166 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 25.0y is 13.9 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 25.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 51,392 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 8,889 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 22,778.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 14,314.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 5,411 |
| Population under 18 | 8,889 |
| Median age | 25.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 51,392 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 34,248 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3,915 |
| Asian residents | 1,664 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 11,890 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 66.2% |
| Asian population | 3.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 7.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 23.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 60.8% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 4.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 18% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 24,608 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 15,482 |
| Share born in this state | 47.9% |
| Share born in another state | 52.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 17.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 9,104 |
| From Europe | 906 |
| From Africa | 2,218 |
| From Latin America | 115 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 61 |
Households & Family Composition
17,360 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 50% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 8,949 families, 33% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 8,801 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 8,949 |
| Married couples with children | 2,918 |
| Single-parent households | 380 |
| Average household size | 2.55 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 352 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 151 |
| Family households | 8,719 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 50.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 17,360 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 25.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 2,151 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 25.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 36,368 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 38,519 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -2,151 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 2,933 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 7,226 residents live in group quarters (14.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 7,226 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51660 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 660 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Harrisonburg City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51660 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Harrisonburg city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,116 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51660 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Harrisonburg city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 43.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 38.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 2.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 53,016 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 14 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 19 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 51,392, stable, young community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 51,392 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Harrisonburg city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade