Blacksburg real estate moves fast. The median sale price for homes in the area sits around $496,671, and properties are typically under contract in roughly 23 days. Buyers looking near Virginia Tech tend to zero in on the best neighborhoods in Blacksburg with established infrastructure - and two names come up constantly.
Highland Park and Highland (often called Grissom-Highland) both sit within Montgomery County and offer distinct housing styles, but they differ in pricing, proximity to campus, and overall layout. If you're trying to figure out which side of town fits your budget and your commute, it helps to put them side by side.
Geographic Layout of the Neighborhoods
Highland Park sits within walking distance of Downtown Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus. That proximity makes it a frequent target for university staff and anyone who'd rather walk or bike than deal with a car. The streets have mature trees and green spaces worked into the residential blocks.
The Highland or Grissom-Highland area occupies a different footprint. Residents here rely more on vehicle access and the Blacksburg Transit system, and US-460 is the main artery for getting around town or reaching other parts of Montgomery County. It's a straightforward residential layout - direct route to the university and Main Street retail, standard lots, less of a premium on the address itself.
Architectural Styles and Development Eras
Highland Park is almost entirely single-family homes built in the 1960s. Mid-century design, a lot of original brick exteriors, single-story and split-level floor plans. Many have been renovated inside while keeping their classic street presence, so you'll often get updated kitchens behind a very traditional facade.
The Grissom-Highland area offers a wider mix - single-family homes alongside some attached housing options, with varied lot configurations across different builds. If you have a strong preference for the uniform 1960s aesthetic of Highland Park, that's worth knowing before you start touring homes further out. If you want more variety, Grissom-Highland gives you that.
Housing Costs and Property Taxes
Before you run the numbers on any specific listing, you need to factor in what Montgomery County and the Town of Blacksburg will take from you in taxes. The county's base real estate tax rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year is $0.81 per $100 of assessed value. Properties inside the Blacksburg town limits carry an additional town levy of approximately $0.26 per $100.
Both Highland Park and the Highland area fall within town boundaries, so you're looking at a combined rate of roughly $1.07 per $100 against assessed value. Your lender will include these taxes in the debt-to-income calculations during underwriting, so it's not a detail you can revisit later.
Pricing Differences and Market Pace
Highland Park pricing is genuinely hard to isolate on real estate aggregator sites - the data tends to blend into broader Blacksburg town metrics. What you can say with confidence is that walking distance to Virginia Tech commands a premium, and listings here rarely sit. They mirror the town's overall 23-day average, if not beat it.
Grissom-Highland has a more documented baseline. Recently sold homes in that specific neighborhood showed a median listing price around $357,000, and properties there average about 43 days on the market before going under contract. That's a longer window - more time to schedule tours, think it over, and put together an offer without feeling like you're already late.
Commuting and Local Infrastructure
Getting around Blacksburg means working with US-460 and the Blacksburg Transit bus system. From Highland Park, you can reach Downtown Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus without touching a major road at all - you walk or bike, and for longer trips you connect to Main Street from there.
Grissom-Highland residents lean more on BT bus routes and personal vehicles. The proximity to US-460 makes the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and neighboring towns easy to reach by car. One thing worth doing before you commit to any address out there: drive it yourself during morning traffic. Published commute times are averages; your actual drive time is what matters.
Outdoor Spaces and Recreation
Neither neighborhood has a specifically named, dedicated park sitting inside its boundaries. Highland Park residents tend to use the walkable streets and general green spaces that come with a 1960s residential layout, and the close proximity to campus facilities offsets the lack of a dedicated neighborhood park.
In the Highland area, residents draw on the broader Town of Blacksburg park system. Heritage Community Park and Municipal Park serve the town at large and are a short drive away. If immediate park access matters to you, map the distance from any specific property you're considering to those facilities before you fall in love with the house.
Common Questions About Highland Park and Highland
What is the difference in home prices between Highland Park and Highland in Blacksburg?
Highland Park pricing is harder to pin down through standard data sites, but walking proximity to Virginia Tech generally commands a premium there. The Grissom-Highland area recently showed a median listing price of approximately $357,000. You can also expect Highland Park homes to sell faster than the 43-day average seen in Grissom-Highland.
What types of homes are available in Highland Park compared to Highland?
Highland Park is almost entirely single-family homes built in the 1960s - mid-century brick designs, split-level layouts, mature streets. Grissom-Highland offers a wider mix of traditional single-family homes and some attached housing options. Both neighborhoods have established residential character and mature trees.
How do commute times to Virginia Tech compare between Highland Park and Highland?
Highland Park offers a direct, walkable commute to the Virginia Tech campus and Downtown Blacksburg. Grissom-Highland requires a short drive, a bike ride, or the Blacksburg Transit (BT) bus system. Both areas connect easily to US-460 for trips outside the immediate town center.
Do homes in Highland Park and Highland fall into the same Blacksburg public school attendance zones?
School boundaries in Montgomery County can split neighborhoods and shift with enrollment changes. You'll need to verify the specific attendance zone for any address directly through the Montgomery County Public Schools website (mcpsva.org). The Virginia Department of Education also provides School Quality Profiles for all local facilities.
Are there strict HOA rules or extra neighborhood fees to watch out for in Highland Park versus Highland?
Neither area is governed by a single, blanket neighborhood association - most of these homes predate modern HOA structures. That said, specific attached housing developments within the broader Highland area may carry their own association dues. Review the property disclosures on any listing before you make an offer.
How quickly do homes typically go under contract in these two Blacksburg neighborhoods?
The broader Blacksburg market averages just 23 days on the market. Grissom-Highland properties specifically average about 43 days before going under contract. Highland Park listings tend to sell faster than the town average - demand for walking access to the university keeps that end of the market moving.
Which neighborhood offers better walking access to local businesses?
Highland Park is the clear choice for buyers who want to walk or bike to the shops and restaurants in Downtown Blacksburg. Grissom-Highland relies more on personal vehicles and the local transit system for daily errands.
What are the primary driving routes for running errands from Grissom-Highland?
Residents in this area typically use US-460 to reach neighboring towns and the broader county. For local shopping, the neighborhood offers a straightforward route to the Main Street retail corridor.
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