$373,419Average Value$882Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A residential area next to James Madison University
Central Avenue is just south of James Madison University, but the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets and 20th-century homes give it a relaxed energy. “It’s really close to JMU, but a lot of professors live in that area, so it’s actually a pretty quiet atmosphere,” says Brandon Randall, an associate broker with Heritage Real Estate Company and Rockingham County native. James Madison University is a public university attended by about 21,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students in Harrisonburg. Even in a calmer neighborhood, most residents who choose to live close to campus embrace the energy that the college brings to the city, cheering on the Dukes at football games and listening to the marching band practice at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Central Avenue is just south of James Madison University but has a pretty quiet atmosphere.
Most of the houses in Central Avenue sit on quiet, tree lined streets.
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Local restaurants and dining downtown
In Central Avenue, locals head to Grilled Cheese Mania for inventive renditions of grilled cheese sandwiches and eat on the outdoor patio, which is decorated with bright yellow umbrellas. El Charro serves classic Mexican fare like margaritas and enchiladas in a casual, themed atmosphere. Randall notes that residents only have to drive 10 minutes to go out to eat in downtown Harrisonburg. Downtown’s proximity to JMU shapes the restaurants and shops there, but there is a wide array of businesses, eateries and breweries. “You’ll definitely see students all around, but there are spots that are more student-oriented. Urgie’s, Ruby’s Lounge and Finnigan’s are more so the college bars, so [older] people will go to breweries like Sage Bird or Three Notch’d instead,” says Allyson Scott, who has lived in Harrisonburg for six years. Downtown, locals can enjoy beer, wings and fries from Billy Jack’s Shack or elevated American dishes like salmon and risotto from Rocktown Kitchen. Residents go grocery shopping at Food Lion, which is about a mile southeast, or drive 3 miles east to East Market Street, which is the city’s commercial corridor. Grocery stores like Aldi, Martin’s and Kroger and retail spots like Target and Old Navy line the street.
El Charro serves classic Mexican fare like margaritas and enchiladas in a casual atmosphere.
Grilled Cheese Mania in Central Avenue serves inventive renditions of grilled cheese sandwiches.
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Pickleball and paved pathways at Purcell Park
The neighborhood benefits from a large public green space to spend time outside. “Purcell Park is right there. You can go walk around the park or use the trail to walk to JMU,” Randall says. Bluestone Trail, a 1-mile paved path that starts at Stone Spring Road and connects to Port Republic Road, right by JMU, winds through Purcell Park. Children often run around the park’s large wooden playground, residents face off for pickleball matches and kids play baseball on the ball fields. Neighbors also gather for picnics at the shaded pavilions. Since Central Avenue is under half a mile from JMU’s Quad, many residents will often walk their dogs or push strollers around the landscaped campus, especially on the weekends and during the summer, when the Quad is not packed with college students. For an indoor activity, the neighborhood also has a roller skating rink called Funky’s, which has general admission and themed skating nights.
Central Avenue residents can enjoy a game of pickleball on one of two courts at Purcell Park.
Purcell Park has a a 1.5 mile walking trail that the people of Central Avenue can enjoy.
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Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals on residential streets
Since Central Avenue is filled with single-family homes, college students don’t live in the area, though there are student apartment complexes and dorms located just outside the neighborhood. Those living on or close to Maplehurst Avenue and Hillcrest Drive will see and hear students who live on Greek Row or in the Bluestone Residence Halls. However, the residential streets in the neighborhood have a relaxed atmosphere, as ranches, Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods with concrete walkways and neat shrubbery sit on tree-lined streets. Most homes were built in the early-to-mid 20th century, and house prices start around $260,000 and rise to around $440,000.
Cape Cod style homes are another popular style of house in Central Avenue.
Bigger, Colonial Revival houses with private driveways can be found in Central Avenue.
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Career pathways at Harrisonburg High
Children may begin at Keister Elementary School, which has a C rating from Niche. Students may advance to Thomas Harrison Middle, which has a B-minus rating and then to Harrisonburg High, which earns a B-plus. High school students can enroll in the Harrisonburg City Schools Governor’s STEM Academy to study healthcare or engineering. James Madison University is under a mile from the neighborhood, and Harrisonburg also hosts Eastern Mennonite University, a private religious college with about 900 students.
Harrisonburg High School has an enrollment of more than 1,900 students.
Keister Elementary School has a student population of 526 students.
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JMU football games and gatherings downtown
In the fall, locals will often don purple and gold attire to tailgate before cheering on the Dukes at a football game at Bridgeforth Stadium. There are also frequent events downtown; residents head to the Turner Pavilion on Saturday mornings to browse the farmers market. Growers and farmers from across the Shenandoah Valley set up booths of fresh produce and locally sourced meat and dairy. On Wednesday evenings in the summer, the Turner Pavilion hosts a free concert series. Harrisonburg begins December with a parade and winter festival, which is complete with carriage rides and pictures with Santa.
Central Avenue locals cheer on the Dukes at football games at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Near Central Avenue, local farmers and vendors sell goods at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market.
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South Main Street leads downtown
Port Republic Road, the main thoroughfare that leads from many student apartment complexes to James Madison University, goes through the neighborhood. The road experiences much heavier traffic during the school year, especially in the mornings, as students commute to campus. South Main Street goes along the western edge of Central Avenue and leads 2 miles north to downtown Harrisonburg. There are bus stops serviced by the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation along South Main Street, but many routes, like the Yellow Line, only operate when JMU is in session. Locals may walk to some restaurants or the park, though sidewalks are limited, but the area is fairly car-dependent. Interstate 81 goes along the eastern edge of the neighborhood; drivers head south to travel 25 miles to Staunton. From there, they can merge onto Interstate 64 to travel to Charlottesville, Richmond or Williamsburg. Heading north on Interstate 81 takes residents toward northern Virginia, where they can link with Interstate 66 and drive to Arlington and Washington, D.C. A couple of industrial train tracks run near the neighborhood; residents will occasionally see freight trains go by.
Commuters of Central Avenue can find several bus stops throughout the neighborhood.
JMU faculty living in Central Avenue can walk to campus on the Bluestone Trail.
GreatSchools:
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Greg Pfaff,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Purcell Park
Kids' Castle
Transit
Airport
Charlottesville-Albemarle
69 min drive
Bus
South Main St. Across From Wendy's
Bus
South Main St. & 1420 South Main St.
Bus
South Main St. & East Fairview Ave.
Bus
South Main St. & Harrison St.
Bus
South Main St. & Green's Laundry
Central Avenue Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Central Avenue, Harrisonburg sell after 875 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Central Avenue, Harrisonburg over the last 12 months is $650,000, up 251% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 1526 Hillside Ave, a well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home ideally situated across from the popular Purcell Park. Enjoy immediate access to walking trails, playgrounds, ball fields, and pickleball courts—right in the heart of Harrisonburg. Inside, you’ll find a bright and inviting living area, a spacious eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and plenty of cabinet and
Welcome to 21 Port Republic Rd, a classic 1924 Craftsman-style home nestled on a spacious 0.37-acre lot in the heart of Harrisonburg's Purcell Park neighborhood. Just steps from James Madison University, downtown dining, and green spaces, this 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home is ideal for those seeking a move-in ready property with character and location.Inside, you'll find over 3,000 finished
Discover this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch-style home at 100 Monument Ave. Boasting 1,909 square feet of one-level living, this move-in-ready home sits on a desirable corner lot just steps from Purcell Park and JMU. Inside, you’ll find a completely remodeled interior with luxury vinyl plank flooring, fresh paint, and a light-filled floorplan designed for flexibility and
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Greg Pfaff,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,471
Median Age
22
Population Density
17 ppl/acre
Population under 18
38.1%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
2.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$77,604
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$103,412
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
67.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.6%
% Population in Labor Force
40.9%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
31/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
46/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
45/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
