Sunset Heights

Established urban neighborhood with tree-lined streets, mid-century homes, and easy access to downtown dining, parks, and JMU.

Sunset Heights Location

Sunset Heights is one of Harrisonburg’s most established neighborhoods, offering a mix of mid-century and newer homes, two bordering parks with miles of trails, and close proximity to downtown. Median home price is $338,000 with homes selling in about 7 days — this neighborhood moves fast when inventory hits the market.

What’s It Like to Live in Sunset Heights?

Sunset Heights has the feel of a neighborhood that’s been lived in and loved for decades — because it has. Tree-lined streets wind past ranches, Cape Cods, and Colonial Revivals built from the 1930s through 2016. Homes range from original builds to recent additions, with a mix of longtime ownership and newer purchases. It’s not a cookie-cutter subdivision — every block has its own character.

What really sets Sunset Heights apart is proximity to downtown. Sidewalks and crosswalks on Market Street and Route 42 connect the northeast end to downtown Harrisonburg, and HBConnect (the city’s free bus service) runs along High Street. You can walk to Greenberry’s Coffee, Food Lion, or catch a JMU baseball game at the stadiums on the neighborhood’s east edge.

With about 8,500 residents and a strong homeownership rate, this is a stable, rooted community with a strong sense of continuity.

Housing & Home Prices in Sunset Heights

Home styles range from original 1930s–1960s ranches and Cape Cods to larger Colonial Revivals and newer traditional builds. The wide price range reflects that variety — you’ll find starter homes under $300K and renovated or larger properties pushing toward $750K.

What Makes Sunset Heights Stand Out

• Close proximity to downtown and JMU — under 10 minutes to both on foot or by car
• Two bordering parks with miles of trails — Hillandale Park and Westover Park
• Wide price range from under $300K to $700K+ — entry-level and move-up properties in the same neighborhood
• Move-up buyers eyeing the larger, renovated homes in the $400K–$700K+ range

The broad price range means Sunset Heights serves multiple needs — it’s one of the few Harrisonburg neighborhoods with both entry-level and move-up inventory.

Schools Near Sunset Heights

Sunset Heights is zoned for Harrisonburg City Public Schools:

• Elementary: Keister Elementary School
• Middle: Thomas Harrison Middle School
• High: Harrisonburg High School

All three schools are within a short drive, and Keister Elementary is just south of the neighborhood.

Things to Do Near Sunset Heights

Two parks border Sunset Heights, and they’re a major draw:

• Hillandale Park — The larger of the two, with a mile-long trail through woodlands that connects to the Friendly City Trail (a 2-mile paved walking and cycling path)
• Westover Park — Skate park, 21-hole disc golf course, and a public pool with seasonal memberships and day passes
• Heritage Oaks Golf Course — Public 18-hole course designed for walking, right nearby
• JMU Stadiums — Catch Dukes baseball and softball games at the east edge of the neighborhood
• Downtown Harrisonburg — Less than a mile away. Mashita (Korean), Pale Fire Brewing, Clementine Cafe, and dozens more restaurants and shops
• Greenberry’s Coffee — Local favorite, practically in the neighborhood

Sunset Heights vs. Other Harrisonburg Neighborhoods

If close proximity to downtown is a priority, Sunset Heights wins. If you want more house for the money in a quieter setting, look at Pleasant Hill Acres. If you need a larger home and an active community, Belmont is the move — but at a higher price point.

Homes for Sale in Sunset Heights

See what’s currently on the market in Sunset Heights. These listings are updated directly from the MLS.