About one in four people in Harrisonburg city, Virginia, lives below the poverty line
In Harrisonburg city, 26.4% of people lived below the poverty line. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 54% of U.S. counties.
What drives Harrisonburg city's score
In Harrisonburg city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 86.5. About three in ten renters (29.6%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 96% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 59.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Harrisonburg city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Harrisonburg city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (10.4%, 2020 to 2024) and adults 25 to 54 not working (17.0%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 86.5 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent29.6% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.7% · fiscal year 202776th percentile
-
- 59.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line26.4% · 202497th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.4% · 202466th percentile
- People with a disability10.4% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
- People without health insurance10.5% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,973 · 202458th percentile
-
- 47.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.9% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.7% · August 202556th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.0% · second quarter of 202645th percentile
-
- 38.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202649th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.0% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
-
- 30.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.7% · August 202533rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people84.2 · 202527th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
How Harrisonburg city has changed
The number of jobs located in Harrisonburg city rose by more than half to 31,238, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 27,459. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Harrisonburg city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.1% | 2025 3.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.2% | 2024 26.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $29,866 | 2024 $63,973 |
The table uses 3.8% for 2025; the score uses 4.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Harrisonburg city's history
1779
In 1779, Harrison deeded 2.5 acres of land for construction of courthouse. Wikipedia
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 51,814, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
-
Since 1972
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Harrisonburg city, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Harrisonburg city beside its neighbors
Harrisonburg city scores higher than all one counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg city, VA | 54 | 26.4% | — |
| Rockingham County, VA | 13 | 8.2% | — |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Harrisonburg city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Harrisonburg city's poverty rate was 26.4% in 2024, 2nd highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Harrisonburg city ranks 63rd of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Harrisonburg city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Blue Ridge Legal Services
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Harrisonburg city · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.