It sounds like a trick question, right?

Certainly, my monthly payment for a $300K townhouse in the City will be the same as for a $300K townhouse in the County, right?

Nope.

The difference is the real estate tax rate...

City of Harrisonburg = $0.93 per $100 of assessed value

Rockingham County = $0.68 per $100 of assessed value

As such, here's how the monthly mortgage payments break down if you financed 90% of the purchase price over 30 years with an interest rate of 6.25%...

City of Harrisonburg = $1,958

Rockingham County = $1,895

So, they're close... but you'll pay approximately $63 per month more on your $300K City townhouse as compared to a townhouse at the same price point in the County.

Or, annually, you'll pay about $750 more to live in the City than in the County.