At a Glance
Median Income
$71,313
$37,964 per capita
Home Value
$213,300
Zillow: $282,888
Median Rent
$686/mo
26.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
138/100K
643/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%
89.0% high school+
Unemployment
0.8%
2.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
15.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
318 sunny days/yr
How Amherst Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Amherst's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Amherst a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Amherst residents earn a median household income of $71,313 , which is 5% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $37,964. The unemployment rate stands at 0.8% (78% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 2.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 795 business establishments, including 48 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Amherst is $213,300 , 24% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $282,888. Median rent is $686/month, with 26.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 101.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1968.
Safety & Crime
Amherst reports 138 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 64% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 643/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
23.9% of adults in Amherst hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(29% below the national average).
89.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Amherst has an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C).
Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 318 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Data Overview
People
Population2,124
Median Age44.6 yrs
Density433/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.1%
Economy
A
Median Income$71,313
Per Capita$37,964
Unemployment0.8%
Poverty2.1%
County GDP$1,099M
Avg Weekly Wage$909
Housing
A+
Home Value$213,300
Rent$686
Ownership69.9%
Zillow$282,888
Housing Units1,123
Rent Burden26.1%
Crime
F
Violent138/100K
Property643/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault92/100K
Burglary138/100K
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes11.9%
Smoking15.7%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death10,404/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days318/yr
AQI35 (Good)
Elevation683 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+23.9%
High School+89.0%
Graduate+9.8%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 68% / D 31%
Commute20 min
Broadband86.8%
Internet Speed57 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Amherst was built in 1968.
The nearest airport is Lynchburg Regional/Preston Glenn Field (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
24.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.