Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Friday, April 17, 2026
If you own real estate in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County -- or if you're thinking about buying -- there's some noteworthy news coming out of the local budget process this year.
Harrisonburg: Holding Steady at $1.01
The City of Harrisonburg is planning to keep its real estate tax rate at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value. No change from last year... though when you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, the City's rate has climbed 19% since 2017, when it sat at $0.85.
Rockingham County: Shifting down from $0.68 to $0.66.
The County is actually planning to lower its tax rate -- from $0.68 down to $0.66 per $100 of assessed value. Here's why... Rockingham County just went through a reassessment of real estate values, something that only happens every four years. Because property values have risen significantly over that period (reflecting market changes), assessed values went up across the board. That means the County will be collecting more tax revenue... and thus they can reduce the tax rate for the upcoming budget. Since 2017, the County's rate has actually declined 11% -- from $0.74 to $0.66.
Harrisonburg: Holding Steady at $1.01
The City of Harrisonburg is planning to keep its real estate tax rate at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value. No change from last year... though when you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, the City's rate has climbed 19% since 2017, when it sat at $0.85.
Rockingham County: Shifting down from $0.68 to $0.66.
The County is actually planning to lower its tax rate -- from $0.68 down to $0.66 per $100 of assessed value. Here's why... Rockingham County just went through a reassessment of real estate values, something that only happens every four years. Because property values have risen significantly over that period (reflecting market changes), assessed values went up across the board. That means the County will be collecting more tax revenue... and thus they can reduce the tax rate for the upcoming budget. Since 2017, the County's rate has actually declined 11% -- from $0.74 to $0.66.
I should note -- even with a decrease in the County's real estate tax rate, most homeowners will still be seeing increases in their County real estate tax bill because of an increased in assessed values.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you're comparing the cost of homeownership in the City versus the County, the tax rate difference is one factor to put on the table. A home assessed at $400,000 would carry an annual tax bill of roughly $4,040 in the City and $2,640 in the County. That's nearly $1,400 a year -- or about $115 a month -- in difference, just from the tax rate alone.
It's not the only factor, of course. Location, schools, amenities, commute... all of that matters too. But it's worth comparing the tax rates and how they will impact your monthly housing costs.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you're comparing the cost of homeownership in the City versus the County, the tax rate difference is one factor to put on the table. A home assessed at $400,000 would carry an annual tax bill of roughly $4,040 in the City and $2,640 in the County. That's nearly $1,400 a year -- or about $115 a month -- in difference, just from the tax rate alone.
It's not the only factor, of course. Location, schools, amenities, commute... all of that matters too. But it's worth comparing the tax rates and how they will impact your monthly housing costs.
One final disclaimer... the proposed tax rates above ($1.01 and $0.66) are just that... proposed. Harrisonburg City Council and the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors will review the proposals and finalize the tax rates in the near future.
