What are the schools like in Amherst, VA?

Amherst is served primarily by Amherst County Public Schools. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Amherst?

The median household income in Amherst, VA is $59,306 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in Amherst, VA?

Amherst has an average high temperature of 48.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.7 inches.

Amherst, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Amherst, VA affordable or expensive?

Amherst's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Amherst is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $191,000 and the median rent is $685 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Amherst, VA?

Amherst has a violent crime rate of 189.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 898.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Amherst, VA a Good Place to Live?

Amherst is a small town of 2,299 in Virginia, with a median household income of $59,306 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Amherst stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Amherst is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Amherst city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Amherst's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Amherst costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Amherst, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$191,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$685	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,306	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Amherst's violent crime rate is 189.2 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

189.2 /100k

Property Crime

898.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Amherst is served primarily by Amherst County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Amherst, VA	National Avg
School District	Amherst County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Amherst sees average highs of 48.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July, with 45.9 inches of annual precipitation and 15.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Amherst, VA
Average High — January	48.0°F
Average High — July	87.3°F
Annual Precipitation	45.9"
Annual Snowfall	15.7"

Demographics

Metric	Amherst, VA	National Avg
Population	2,299	—
Median Age	51.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	22.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	16.6%	22.2%
65 and over	33.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Madison Heights, VA 10 mi Arrington, VA 11 mi Lynchburg, VA 15 mi Shipman, VA 15 mi Lovingston, VA 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Amherst

Amherst, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24521

Amherst vs Other Cities

Amherst, VA vs Madison Heights, VA Amherst, VA vs Arrington, VA Amherst, VA vs Lynchburg, VA Amherst, VA vs Shipman, VA Amherst, VA vs Lovingston, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amherst, VA affordable or expensive?

Amherst's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Amherst roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $191,000 and median rent is $685/month.

What is the crime rate in Amherst, VA?

Amherst's violent crime rate is 189.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 898.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Amherst?

Public schools in Amherst are operated by Amherst County Public Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Amherst, VA a good place to live?

Amherst, VA has a population of 2,299, a median household income of $59,306, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Amherst?

Amherst averages 48.0°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.9 inches with about 15.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Amherst?

Amherst, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24521.

What is the population of Amherst?

The population of Amherst, Virginia is 2,299 with a median age of 51.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Amherst?

Key numbers for living in Amherst: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $191,000, median household income $59,306, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Amherst side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.