This is a guest post by my son, Luke Rogers, who is also a Realtor with Funkhouser Real Estate Group.  You'll start to hear from Luke from time to time here on HarrisonburgHousingToday.com and you can also learn more about Luke by subscribing to his email newsletter over here or by contacting him by email or phone/text at 540-830-5097.

Over the past five years, there has been a clear shift in the mix of detached versus attached home sales in both Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Overall market activity has cooled compared to the peaks of 2020 - 2021, and affordability pressures have continued to influence buyer decisions.

At the same time, new construction trends have shaped what is available. In many areas, attached homes (such as townhomes and duplexes) have made up a growing share of what is being built and sold.

The end result: attached homes have gained market share in both Harrisonburg and Rockingham County - though the dynamics differ between the two.

First, Harrisonburg City…



From 2020 through 2022, detached homes accounted for roughly 56% - 57% of all sales in the City. In 2023, that figure rose to 63%, but so far in 2025 detached and attached homes are evenly split.



One factor is space. With limited land available for large new subdivisions inside the City, much of the new housing built over the past 15(+) years has been attached - such as the townhomes at The Townes at Bluestone. Combined with higher mortgage rates since 2022, which have made attached homes at lower price points more appealing, it is not surprising that attached homes thus far in 2025 represent around half of City sales.

Now, Rockingham County…



Detached homes continue to dominate in Rockingham, though their share has declined from 76% in 2020 to 64% in 2025. Attached homes, meanwhile, have grown from 24% to 36% of the market.



In terms of sales volume, detached home sales peaked at 818 in 2021. However, since then, we have seen that number decline.

Unlike the City, Rockingham County has had ample room for new construction.  Plenty of new detached homes and townhomes have been built over the past five years.  Even so, higher mortgage rates and ongoing price growth have likely made townhomes in these communities especially attractive.

Taken together, these trends highlight how Rockingham’s market has shifted, setting up a contrast with Harrisonburg’s more limited supply.

In summary…

In Harrisonburg, limited space for new construction, combined with affordability challenges and inventory shifts over recent years, has contributed to the higher share of attached sales. 

In Rockingham County, detached homes remain dominant, in part due to the size of the area and the existing number of detached properties. However, attached homes have steadily gained ground as new townhome communities have been built and buyers look for more affordable options.

As mortgage rates and new construction patterns continue to evolve, the question remains: will attached homes keep rising in popularity, or will the pendulum swing back towards detached homes?