Rockingham County is a quiet area in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with around 84,000 people. It’s known for its beautiful scenery, farming history, and interesting historical sites. However, not every part of the county is equally safe.
According to CrimeGrade.org, a website that shares crime information for U.S. counties, Rockingham County gets an A- overall for safety, which means it’s safer than most other counties in the U.S.
But, some neighborhoods within the county have higher crime rates, especially when it comes to violent crime. Here are the top five neighborhoods with more crime per person in Rockingham County, based on the map from CrimeGrade.org:
| Neighborhood | Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents) |
| Broadway | 24.9 |
| Elkton | 25.7 |
| Timberville | 26.9 |
| Harrisonburg | 27.8 |
| Massanutten | 38.3 |
Broadway
Broadway is a town in the northern part of the county, with around 3,800 residents. According to CrimeGrade.org, it has a C grade for violent crime and a B grade for property crime.
Looking at the crime per capita map, Broadway’s crime rate is 24.9 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the county average of 19.6.
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Elkton
Elkton is a town in the eastern part of the county, close to Shenandoah National Park, and it has around 2,800 residents. According to CrimeGrade.org, the town has a C grade for violent crime and a B- grade for property crime.
On the crime per capita map, Elkton has a crime rate of 25.7 per 1,000 residents, which is a bit higher than Broadway.
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Timberville
Timberville, located in the northern part of the county, has around 2,600 residents. The town’s safety rating is C- for violent crime and B- for property crime, as reported by CrimeGrade.org.
Looking at the crime per person map, Timberville has a crime rate of 26.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, making it the highest among the towns in the county.
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Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg is a city in the central part of the county, and it’s where the county government is located. Around 54,000 people live there. According to CrimeGrade.org, the city has a B- grade for violent crime and a C+ grade for property crime.
The crime per capita map shows that Harrisonburg has a crime rate of 27.8 per 1,000 residents, which is the second highest in the county.
James Madison University, a public university with about 22,000 students, is also located in Harrisonburg. The presence of the university might be one reason why the crime rate is higher in the city.
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Massanutten
Massanutten, located in the eastern part of the county, is a designated area with around 2,300 people. According to CrimeGrade.org, it has a D grade for violent crime and a C- grade for property crime.
The crime per capita map reveals that Massanutten has a crime rate of 38.3 per 1,000 residents, the highest in the county. Despite this, Massanutten is well-known as a popular resort destination, offering a ski area, water park, golf course, and other amenities that might attract both visitors and criminals.
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To Conclude
Rockingham County is a beautiful place with generally low crime rates. However, some areas in the county have higher levels of crime, especially violent crimes. It’s important to check out specific neighborhoods before deciding to live there.
By looking at safety grades and crime rates per person, like the ones on CrimeGrade.org, people can make better-informed choices.
For example, Massanutten might be attractive for recreation, but it has a higher crime rate, so it’s wise to be extra careful. On the other hand, Broadway is scenic and has a lower crime rate, making it a more peaceful option.
Ultimately, being aware of local conditions helps people make responsible decisions in Rockingham County, which has a mix of safe and peaceful areas.
