RANK #511 / 996 · POP 83,905 · VA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.7%
Rockingham County, Virginia, located in the central Shenandoah Valley, is defined by its natural surroundings, with the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. The county surrounds the independent city of Harrisonburg, home to James Madison University. Public transportation options are available through Harrisonburg's bus routes and ValleyRide, which connects to surrounding towns like Broadway and Timberville. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with portions of Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest within the county, offering extensive trails, scenic drives like Skyline Drive, and opportunities for hiking, biking, and water activities. Life in Rockingham County is characterized by a family-friendly atmosphere and a strong sense of community. The public school system is recognized for its above-average performance. The economy is diversified, with agriculture, education, and advanced manufacturing playing roles. Recent economic developments include a significant investment by Merck to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing center in the county. Additionally, the Innovation Village at Rockingham is a mixed-use development planned to include retail, office, medical, commercial, and residential components.
Overvalued relative to economy
No data
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 11.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Rockingham County has a Boom Town Index score of 49/100, ranking #511 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.6% and a median household income of $73,232, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Rockingham County is $266,900 with median rent at $1,078/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2744, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.6%. Home values changed +2.6% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.55% of Rockingham County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.