No Sun in Harrisonburg? Really? (Charlottesville, Staunton: landscaping, school, college)

[needthesun]

I need some help! Looking at the charts and data on this site for Harrisonburg the percent of sunshine there stinks! I actually went to JMU 15+ years ago and don't remember that....but we are currently living in Seattle and we need to get out ASAP. I am suffering from SAD, and we have a job opportunity in Harrisonburg, but the graph scares me!

Our other option is Boise, but we have never been there. We are actually going next week to check it out.

I know I liked it in Harrisonburg when I went to school there, but I am sure things have changed, and now I have a family, with kids.

Does anyone know how accurate the weather data is on this site, or any other resources I can find out the sun ratio? Thanks so much!

[j1n]

I'd say that is not entirely accurate. Average sunny days per year - 169. (Although we're about 2 hrs south and we get an average of 211 per year.) And the comfort index in H-burg is better than the US average. However...
Harrisonburg is a pretty bleak place, overall. Not a lot of character at all. If I were you, I would take Boise in a heartbeat. Wait...make that half a heartbeat!

[WillV]

I just recently lived in Harrisonburg, and I too have to concur that as a whole it is a fairly boring place (not bleak, just plain boring), and you're not going to meet too many interesting folks from the Friendly City..well, unless your a 18 - 22 college student...it's low on asthetic appeal (but improving) and it is a brutally conservative area...

On the other hand, Harrisonburg is fairly close to many east coast destinations, and the city is growing and has a good economy and appears to be making changes for the better..

Still, I would think that Boise would have more "curb" appeal...knowing what I know about Hburg, I wold think Boise would be a better option...

[goofy328]

Harrisonburg is a really boring place. I had some good times but wouldn't live there again. It is growing though they relocated the hospital and I think JMU is taking over that area as well as most of downtown. Sort of reminds me of Huntington, WV and how Marshall sort of "owns" that town as well. You're probably better off in Charlottesville it's a bit more urban. There were plans to put a high rise in there, mixed development but it was nixed. Place is really conservative even Staunton is a bit more interesting, but as WillV said it's close proximity to DC sort of makes it desirable, though Winchester is pretty close as well.

[cb at sea]

As a college student, you probably didn't notice much about the daytime hours! Most students don't! They're nightowls!
I wouldn't pick a college town, unless you are in school!

[TookieTookie]

I consider the weather in harrisonburg to be beautiful. It has many more sunny days than where I am living now... and I never thought it was cloudy too often during the 20 years I lived there. The temperatures are generally mild... you get some quite chilly days in the winter, but its nothing compared to say Northern IN, OH, or IL. You get a lovely mix of seasons, each one is distinct and there isn't a dominating season in particular. Also, Harrisonburg is definitely NOT bleak. Whoever said that has clearly not been to many places... Harrisonburg is too commercial to be considered quaint by any means, but as a whole it is pretty well kept up. Nice landscaping, decent architecture, nicely paved roads, and great scenery.