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Amherst, VA

Town in Amherst County, Virginia.

Population

1,865

Land area

4.9sq mi

People per sq mi

380

ZIP codes

0

Amherst and its ZIP codes

Full map

Amherst at a glance

  • Amherst is 73% denser than Virginia as a whole.
  • The median household income is $70,841, 24% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $220,700 (42% below Virginia) and median rent is $718 a month.

Local data for Amherst, VA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Amherst, VA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$70,841

Poverty rate

9.1%

Median home value

$220,700

Median rent

$718/mo

Homeownership

70.4%

Bachelor's or higher

25.7%

Median age

50.3

Average commute

20.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (189), German Americans (114), Scottish Americans (57).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Amherst County. PPP loans are for Amherst.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Sep 2026, +0.3 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$49,406

7,835 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$48,819

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$243M

FY 2026, $7,775 per person

Amherst County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Amherst, VA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone72.0%
  • Carpooled9.8%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked2.2%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
  • Worked from home14.7%

Average one-way commute: 20.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Amherst, VA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: hurricane

Storm events since 1996

613

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

40

0.3% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

87° / 26°F

46.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Amherst, VA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.7%

U.S. 33.3% +5.4 pts

Diabetes

16.4%

U.S. 12.1% +4.3 pts

Smoking

14.3%

U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.9%

U.S. 11.1% -2.2 pts

Cities near Amherst

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Madison HeightsCensus-designated place9.8 mi19.2
ArringtonCensus-designated place10 mi10.4
LynchburgCity15 mi48.9
ShipmanCensus-designated place15 mi2.7
LovingstonCensus-designated place16 mi4
ConcordCensus-designated place17 mi5.6
Big IslandCensus-designated place17 mi0.8
ForestCensus-designated place19 mi13.6
Buena VistaCity19 mi6.4
AppomattoxTown20 mi2.2
YogavilleCensus-designated place21 mi6
RustburgCensus-designated place22 mi12.5
TimberlakeCensus-designated place22 mi11.2
GlasgowTown22 mi1.5
WintergreenCensus-designated place24 mi8.8
SchuylerCensus-designated place24 mi1.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Amherst, VA in?
Amherst is in Amherst County, Virginia.
What is the population of Amherst, VA?
About 1,865 people live in Amherst, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Amherst?
Nearby places include Madison Heights (9.8 mi), Arrington (10 mi), Lynchburg (15 mi), Shipman (15 mi), Lovingston (16 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023