Downtown Harrisonburg/Massanutten (Bridgewater, Dayton: rentals, high crime, homes)

[HLBLanc]

Hello!
We are moving from Charlotte to the Harrisonburg area. My husband and I are in our early 50's. Our 2 oldest are in college and our youngest is going to Massanutten Military Academy.


What comprises the downtown? Do people of our age live downtown? Are there any areas of high crime?


We are also looking into Massanutten Resort, is that a nice place to live--do the tourists make it a pain to live there?


Sorry so many questions!
Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

[Countryfreak]

Much of the downtown area is a mix of college students although not on the same scale of many large college towns. But if you buy in a community within a few miles you'd better talk to some neighbors and see if many of the homes there are rented to students. The further you get out from the campus the better. Nice town but is growing more and more. Too crowded for me but I prefer to live out in the mountains now and I avoid these crowds unless I need to go into town for something. If you can get out in the areas such as Rt. 33 heading west from town you'd be in homes with very little chance of rentals around itt for the college. Or go a little further south and look at the Dayton or Bridgewater areas. 33 heading east from town is growing quickly as well and of course Massanutten Resort is out there. Not sure tourists will ruin the area but it will keep the place hopping at times. Are you not looking closer to MMA itself?