$301,238Average Value$729Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
A convenient neighborhood near downtown Harrisonburg and James Madison University
Though it’s just 2 miles south of James Madison University and downtown Harrisonburg, Pleasant Acres is a peaceful residential area filled with tree-lined streets. Framed by South Main Street to the east and South High Street to the west, the neighborhood has easy access to the core of Harrisonburg, but it remains fairly quiet. “I went to JMU but stayed in the area after graduating, which is pretty common. The cost of living is much cheaper than it is in northern Virginia, and the mountains are beautiful,” says Allyson Scott, a resident who’s lived in the area for a year. College students don't usually live in the apartments closer to South High Street, but there are some student apartment complexes and fraternity houses on the eastern edge of the neighborhood on South Main Street. Traffic gets heavier along the main road during the school year as students and faculty commute to campus.
Condos, ranches and split-levels on residential roads
The residential streets have a mixture of apartment buildings, condos and single-family homes. Some complexes, like The Mill Apartments and Grand Duke Apartments, are geared toward JMU students. Homes closer to South Main Street will experience more noise related to traffic and college parties than other parts of the neighborhood, but the rest of the neighborhood has peaceful streets lined with ranches and split-levels. Condos from the 1980s are usually priced between $120,000 and $135,000. Gridded roads, which often end in cul-de-sacs, are lined with brick homes decorated with neat shrubbery. Split-levels, ranches and Colonial Revivals were built in the 1960s and ‘70s, priced between $220,000 and $410,000. New Traditional duplexes built in the last 20 years cost between $240,000 and $280,000.
Pickleball, pools and walking trails at nearby public parks
Several popular Harrisonburg parks sit within 2 miles of the Pleasant Acres. “Hillandale Park is a great one to go on a walk after work, and Westover Park has 18 holes of disc golf. Purcell Park has a couple of pickleball courts,” Scott says. Hillandale Park has a forested nature trail, basketball and sand volleyball courts and picnic pavilions for casual gatherings. Heritage Oaks Golf Course, a municipal 18-hole course, is next to Hillandale Park. Purcell Park has a paved nature trail that winds through the trees and follows a small creek called Blacks Run. The path is part of Bluestone Trail, a paved 1-mile recreational path for biking or jogging between Stone Spring Road and Port Republic Road. Kids run around the large wooden playground at Purcell Park and practice for Little League games on the baseball fields. During the summer, residents cool off at Westover Park’s Olympic-sized pool and colorful youth splash pad; household summer passes for Harrisonburg residents are $75.
Casual local restaurants on South High Street
Mr. J’s Bagels and Deli is a local staple for breakfast sandwiches made with New York-style bagels nearby on South High Street. Mi Pueblito Grill 2 serves flavorful Mexican dishes, like tacos and burritos, in a casual environment. For dessert, there's La Flor De México, a Mexican bakery that offers decorated cakes and pastries. Near South Main Street, locals can stop by Little Italy Pizza for pasta and pies or Pasha Rest and Cafe, a Kurdish restaurant serving kabobs and chicken shawarma. Food Lion is less than a mile south for grocery shopping, and East Market Street, which is about 4 miles east, has many more shopping options. Residents can grab groceries from Kroger, Martin’s or Aldi and head to Target for household essentials. The Valley Mall offers a collection of nationally known stores like Old Navy, JCPenney and Ulta Beauty.
Dual language learning at Harrisonburg High School
Children can begin at Keister Elementary School, which has a C rating from Niche. They may advance to Thomas Harrison Middle, which has a B-minus rating, and advance to Harrisonburg High, which earns a B-plus. The high school has a dual language program, where participating students and heritage speakers can take at least two core classes in Spanish every year. There are also plenty of higher education options, as James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University are in Harrisonburg, and Bridgewater College and Blue Ridge Community College are nearby.
Summer concerts, farmers markets and trivia nights downtown
Residents head downtown for community events, like the summer farmers market at Turner Pavilion on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Locals sip coffee from nearby shops like Coffee Hound or Agora while they peruse stands filled with fresh produce, locally sourced honey and bright bouquets of wildflowers. On Wednesday summer evenings, residents return to the Turner Pavilion with lawn chairs and picnic blankets in tow for the free concert series. “The breweries organize a lot of events. Sage Bird has a trivia night on Thursdays, and Pale Fire has Singo [song bingo]. Sage Bird has yoga every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a drink included with admission,” Scott says. Families with younger kids opt to explore the Explore More Discovery Museum to play with interactive, hands-on exhibits.
Nearby thoroughfares lead to downtown and major interstates
South Main Street and South High Street lead north to downtown and south toward Bridgewater. The Interstate 81 on-ramp is 2 miles south of the neighborhood; the freeway takes residents 25 miles southwest to Staunton. From there, I-81 connects with Interstate 64, which runs 40 miles east to Charlottesville and 110 miles to Richmond. I-81 also heads north and links with Interstate 66, so drivers can drive about 130 miles to Arlington and Washington, D.C. Closer to home, the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation services the bus stops along South High Street and Central Avenue. Route 3 loops the perimeter of Harrisonburg, with stops near the Walmart on John Wayland Highway and Westover Park. The buses operate on a reduced schedule during the summer when JMU is not in session. Freight train tracks pass through the neighborhood, running parallel to South Main Street and South High Street, but Scott says that hearing the trains or having to stop for a passing train is rare.
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.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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Transit
Airport
Charlottesville-Albemarle
70 min drive
Bus
Central Ave. & Laurel St.
Bus
Central Ave. & Southampton Ct.
Bus
The Mill Apartments Across From Building 11
Bus
Central Ave. Across From Sharon St.
Bus
South High St. & South Ave.
Bus
South Main St. & South Ave.
Bus
South Main St. & Rmh South Main Health Center
Pleasant Acres Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Pleasant Acres, Harrisonburg sell after 132 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Pleasant Acres, Harrisonburg over the last 12 months is $818,500, up 152% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Spacious 3-Bedroom, 2-Bath Condo in Prime Location – Investor’s Dream! Don’t miss this rare opportunity! This beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom condominium offers spacious living in a highly sought-after, convenient location. Perfect for investors or homeowners alike, this unit features an open floor plan, ample natural light, and modern finishes throughout. Located just minutes from
Investors grab this offer to own 2 well-maintained, income-producing apartment buildings in Harrisonburg! These 2 buildings are on 2 tax parcels, each with 6 one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments. Each building lies on .29 acres. Both buildings have been consistently 100% occupied since they were built. Affordable one-bedroom apartments in Harrisonburg are sparse, and these are always in high
Charming 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home featuring fresh paint throughout, a welcoming wraparound porch, and a spacious paved patio with a pergola—perfect for outdoor entertaining. Move-in ready and full of charm!
Grand Duke has 124 units, 121 beds, and is less than a mile from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Our complex has 13 buildings that are two-stories each. One of these buildings contains two 3-bedroom townhomes that are attached to the Leasing Office. There is an upgraded laundry facility which is well-lit and open 24 hours daily. This community is a fantastic mix of college students,
Indulge in a stress-free lifestyle at The Mill! We are the highest-rated off-campus community at JMU. Located only 3 blocks from the James Madison University Quad, we are just a quick walk, bike ride, or bus ride to campus.We take care of our residents by making the student off-campus housing experience problem-free. Our apartments offer High-Speed Xfinity WiFi, plenty of free parking
Property Id: 2031588GET $250 VISA Gift Card - Sign by July 31, 2025. Welcome to your new home at South Avenue! This classic whole home suburban living at its best! Private Garden Access All maintenance included - Worry free! Private Fenced yard in rearOff street parking available3 bedrooms 2 FULL bathrooms Open floor plan that's perfect for
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Emily Barone,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,026
Median Age
29
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
29%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$49,117
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$78,709
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.2%
College Graduates
38.8%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
17.8%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
38/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
34/ 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.
