$518,657Average Value$216Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
An established community with lively energy in Harrisonburg
Old Town is a historic community with youthful collegiate energy just east of downtown Harrisonburg. The neighborhood appears on the National Register of Historic Places for its varied collection of well-maintained 20th-century homes, several of which are now rented out to James Madison University students. “If you’re moving to the area, you understand that there’s a high student population, and you might see some parties and activities,” says Stephan Gleason, a Realtor who operates the Virginia Mountain to Valley Living YouTube channel with his wife, Lesley Gleason, also a Realtor. Old Town’s storied ambiance and proximity to downtown have a wide appeal. The western section of the neighborhood has a higher student population, while the hilly streets in the eastern part of Old Town are more tranquil.
Old Town is a tight knit residential community in Harrisonburg.
Old Town locals can enjoy a weekly concert on Wednesdays at the Turner Pavilion Lawn.
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Casual eateries and bars downtown
The restaurants near Old Town run the gamut from laidback sports bars to elevated eateries. Urgie’s Cheesesteaks is a local spot serving Philly cheesesteaks and mixed drinks in a small wooden bungalow decorated with colorful LED lights and Philadelphia Eagles memorabilia. The Joshua Wilton House is a Queen Anne property built in 1888 for Joshua Wilton, a businessman and banker who moved to Harrisonburg in the 1860s. The house was one of the first in the area to have electricity and, in later years, had tenure as a boarding house, a fraternity house and a wedding venue. It’s since been restored to an elevated inn and restaurant where locals order seared scallops, risotto and seasonal cocktails. Less than a mile west in downtown, there’s Mexican food and margaritas at Magnolia’s Tacos and Tequila Bar and late-night burgers and fries at Texas Inn, a diner with a window for walk-up orders open until 3:00 a.m. on the weekends. The Friendly City Food Co-Op is nearby for locally grown vegetables and organic products, and locals drive 3 miles southeast to East Market Street to shop at supermarkets like Kroger and Costco. The commercial corridor has retailers like Target, T.J. Maxx and Old Navy. Residents pop in boutiques like The Yellow Button and marketplaces like The Shops at Agora to support local downtown businesses.
Grab a barstool and enjoy your lunch at Texas Inn in a classic diner vibe near Old Town.
Urgie's Cheesesteaks is a Philadelphia themed restaurant right outside of Old Town.
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A varied mix of 20th-century homes in Old Town
Century-old homes with large front porches and garden landscaping sit close together in Old Town. Several are long-time rentals for groups of college students; some leases have been passed down for over thirty years. Student-occupied houses are marked with hand-painted placards that bear names like “Barbie Dream Mansion,” “The Garden,” “Planetarium” and “Crayon Box.” Students read or study on rocking chairs or lounge on hammocks stretched across the porch. “Older homes have been remodeled into beautiful historic properties; there are even some bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs,” Lesley Gleason says. Craftsman bungalows, Victorian Queen Annes, Cape Cods and American Foursquares line the streets. These early 20th-century homes are usually priced between $350,000 and $550,000. Prices for larger Colonial Revivals from the 1970s fluctuate between $800,000 and $900,000.
Foursquare homes in Old Town sometimes have porches that wrap around the home.
Queen Anne homes in Old Town typically have round corner towers.
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Playgrounds, tennis courts and walking trails nearby
Many live within walking distance of Kiwanis Park, a public green space with a small playground and a basketball court for pickup games. There’s also a large lawn for kids to kick around soccer balls. The Eastover Tennis Courts sit south of the Reservoir-Carlton traffic circle so that residents can face off in pickleball or tennis matches. Locals pushing strollers or walking dogs will traverse the neighborhood and head to the historic downtown area to walk past murals and popular coffee shops. On the weekends, when the campus isn’t packed with students, community members will head to the Quad to walk on red brick sidewalks around the grass lawn, past JMU’s well-known bluestone buildings. Larger city parks, like Westover Park and Hillandale Park, are both under 2 miles from Old Town. Westover Park has a hilly disc golf course and an aquatic center with an Olympic-sized pool and diving wells, while Hillandale Park has forested trails, a basketball court and a playground. The Blue Ridge Mountains that frame the Shenandoah Valley offer chances for more adventurous activities, like mountain biking, hiking and skiing. The Massanutten Resort, which has ski slopes and challenging trails for hiking and biking, is 15 miles southeast. The Swift Run Gap Entrance of Shenandoah National Park, which has rocky peaks, waterfalls and meadows to explore, is 24 miles southeast.
Perfect your jump shot on the basketball courts at Kiwanis Park.
Tire out the tykes on the playground at Westover Park.
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Live music and seasonal festivals downtown
Downtown Harrisonburg has weekly activities and seasonal events. Restaurants like The Golden Pony organize themed nights with bands and DJs, like Taylor Swift dance parties, karaoke nights, disco parties in the downstairs bar, and live acoustic series on the patio. “Ruby’s Arcade, which is a real hoot for families to mingle around and have a game night, is downtown,” Lesley Gleason says. The arcade has old-school arcade games, pool tables and skee-ball. In August, the Block Party in the ‘Burg welcomes first-year students to Harrisonburg with a scavenger hunt around local businesses and live music. At the Skeleton Festival in mid-October, dogs, kids and adults compete in a costume contest and enjoy seasonal treats. The community welcomes the colder months in early December with Winter Wonderfest, a block party with horse-drawn carriage rides and festive music, which ends with a holiday parade and tree lighting.
High school students attend the new Rocktown High
Children may begin at Spotswood Elementary School, which has a C rating from Niche. Many parents walk their kids to school, as the elementary school is in Old Town. Students can progress to Skyline Middle School, which earns a C-plus rating, and advance to the new high school. Rocktown High will open in August 2024, ending Harrisonburg’s long history as a one-high school city. Rocktown features bright, multipurpose learning spaces to host STEM and career learning programs; it has yet to be rated by Niche. Many college students attend James Madison University, the large public university of about 22,000, located about a mile southwest of Old Town. JMU is best known for its education, health sciences, business and visual and performing arts programs.
Rocktown High School is a brand new high school in the Harrisonburg area.
Spotswood Elementary School has 448 students in grades PK-5.
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Walkable streets and bus stops to travel the 'Burg
Many of Old Town’s roads have sidewalks, and residential streets without sidewalks are quiet enough for people to walk to Spotswood Elementary School or toward downtown. The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation operates bus stops along the perimeter of Old Town so residents can travel throughout the city. Drivers travel on East Market Street to merge onto Interstate 81, which is the major highway residents use to travel north toward Washington, D.C. or south toward Richmond.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Oleksii Humaniuk,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Westover Park
Ralph Sampson Park
Kiwanis Park
Transit
Airport
Charlottesville-Albemarle
69 min drive
Bus
South Main St. Across From City Hall
Bus
M.L.King Way & South Mason St.
Bus
M.L.King Way & Cvs
Bus
Reservoir St. & Hawkins St. (East)
Bus
South Liberty St. & Grattan St.
Bus
Reservoir St. & Kenmore St.
Old Town Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Town, Harrisonburg sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Old Town, Harrisonburg over the last 12 months is $324,900.
Stunning 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom brick home in the sought-after Preston Heights neighborhood—just minutes from JMU, downtown Harrisonburg, and local shops and dining. Inside, you’ll find a chef’s dream kitchen, a spacious family room, a cozy sunroom, and a stylish in-law suite in the finished basement. Step outside to your own private paradise with an in-ground pool—perfect for summer gatherings
Welcome to this charming duplex overlooking one of Harrisonburg’s most beautiful neighborhoods and just a short walk from Downtown and James Madison University. Built in 1925, this well-built brick home radiates character while offering modern opportunities for income and ownership. Enjoy early mornings or late evenings on the covered front porch with incredible views of the Appalachian
Extremely rare opportunity to purchase a multi-family home in Old Town! Main level would make fantastic "owner's unit" -- features 10-foot ceilings, 10x15 entry foyer, 15x16 dining room with pocket doors, eat-in kitchen with extensive cabinetry and center island, 15x16 living room with built-ins, half bath with washer/dryer, 2 large bedrooms, 2 full baths. 2nd level has two 2-bedroom, 1-bath
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Oleksii Humaniuk,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,403
Median Age
30
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$65,409
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$97,820
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.9%
College Graduates
72%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
51.5%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
60.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
52/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
75/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
44/ 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.
