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Harrisonburg, VA anchors the Shenandoah Valley, a mid-sized city where roughly 20,000 James Madison University students (plus Eastern Mennonite) set the rhythm. Downtown clusters around historic Court Square and the renovated Ice House, with the Friendly City Trail and Edith J. Carrier Arboretum giving you green space without leaving town. Students spread across the neighborhoods just north and east of the JMU campus, from quieter streets near downtown to the busier corridors along Port Republic Road and Reservoir Street. The city leans into its food-and-farms identity with a downtown farmers market and seasonal festivals, and the Blue Ridge sits a short drive in either direction. It's walkable in the core, friendly, and built around the school calendar.
The corridor southeast of campus packs the biggest student complexes and townhomes, with shuttle stops and a short hop to class. It is the busiest student zone in town.
Just east of Port Republic, this area offers newer purpose-built communities and easy access to shopping. It suits students who want modern housing close to campus.
The Devon Lane area sits close enough to walk and stays popular with upperclassmen who want proximity over quiet. It keeps you near class and the shuttle.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Harrisonburg.
Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation (HDPT) runs free fixed-route buses across the city. The campus shuttle loops between JMU buildings and the apartment corridors along Port Republic Road, Reservoir Street, and Devon Lane. If you live on a route, you can skip the car for daily class trips. Service covers the main student corridors comfortably.
Harrisonburg is compact, so a lot of JMU life happens on foot or bike, especially around campus and downtown. If you live within a mile of campus, walking plus HDPT covers daily class trips comfortably. Biking works on flatter stretches, though the hills surprise newcomers. The core stays very walkable year-round.
Most upperclassmen end up wanting a car. Parking near campus is tight and permit-based, so plan ahead before you lease. A car opens up the Shenandoah Valley, grocery runs, and trips to the Blue Ridge. Weigh the permit situation against how often you will actually drive.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Most JMU students rent by the bedroom in shared units. Per-room rates commonly run about $450 to $850 a month depending on how new the place is, how many roommates split it, and how close it sits to campus. Furnished purpose-built complexes land toward the higher end, while older houses and townhomes farther out come in lower.
Browse student housing near each Harrisonburg-area university.