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Amherst, VA

Full City Profile · Virginia · Amherst County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
2,124 Population 433/sq mi density
$71,313 Median Income $37,964 per capita
$213,300 Home Value $282,888 Zillow
$686 Median Rent 26.1% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 318 sunny days/yr
138 Violent Crime/100K 643 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$71,313 median income, 0.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$213,300 home value, $686/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
138 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Amherst experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°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.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average50.7°F
6% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days318 days/yr

Geography

Elevation683 ft (208 m)
Area4.9 sq mi (12.7 km²)
Population Density433/sq mi
Coordinates37.5819°N, 79.0520°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyAmherst County County
Nearest AirportLynchburg Regional/Preston Glenn Field (LYH)
20 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (Jul) 4.37"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.07"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score21.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability57.8 / 100
Community Resilience41.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

46 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.8. Most recent: M3.0 on May 6, 2025.

Aug 23, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M5.8 105 km
Aug 25, 2011 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M4.5 104 km
Aug 24, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M4.2 103 km
Mar 15, 1991 7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.8 102 km
Oct 21, 1998 13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia M3.8 57 km
May 5, 2003 Virginia M3.6 97 km
Apr 22, 1991 14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia M3.5 109 km
Aug 24, 2011 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.4 101 km
Sep 1, 2011 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M3.4 107 km
Sep 13, 2017 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia M3.2 146 km
Sep 22, 2001 5 km E of Pantops, Virginia M3.2 76 km
Jan 30, 2012 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia M3.1 102 km
May 22, 2014 15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia M3.1 87 km
May 16, 2009 2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia M3.0 92 km
Oct 12, 2011 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 102 km
Mar 26, 2012 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 100 km
Oct 2, 2010 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia M3.0 138 km
May 6, 2025 8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia M3.0 53 km
Apr 21, 1998 1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia M2.8 78 km
Aug 23, 2011 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 106 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

3 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Isabel (2003, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2003 Isabel Category 2 155 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 276 km
1996 Fran Category 1 267 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

143 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 16 fatalities, 73 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 15, 2018 EF3 33 km 0
Feb 24, 2016 EF3 43 km 1
Jul 25, 1985 EF3 88 km 0
Jul 9, 1977 EF3 94 km 0
Jun 16, 1966 EF3 26 km 0
Sep 30, 1959 EF3 97 km 1
Sep 30, 1959 EF3 74 km 0
Sep 30, 1959 EF3 64 km 11
May 27, 2022 EF2 36 km 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 87 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 89 km 1
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 74 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 95 km 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF2 46 km 0
Jul 15, 1996 EF2 53 km 0
Jun 9, 1996 EF2 77 km 0
May 4, 1990 EF2 63 km 2
Oct 13, 1983 EF2 78 km 0
Jun 25, 1977 EF2 63 km 0
May 12, 1974 EF2 88 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: RICH HOLE (15,923 ac, 2012).

Year Name Acres Distance
2012 RICH HOLE 15,923 62 km
2023 MATTS CREEK 11,028 34 km
2016 MOUNT PLEASANT 11,001 21 km
2016 ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016 9,299 88 km
2022 UNNAMED 7,791 78 km
2012 BARBOURS CREEK. 7,244 92 km
2014 ARCHER KNOB RX 6,093 67 km
2022 UNNAMED 5,893 67 km
2021 UNNAMED 5,345 99 km
2015 UNNAMED 5,149 99 km
2013 UNNAMED 4,687 99 km
2008 ST MARYS 4,373 37 km
1999 SHOP RUN 4,261 69 km
2012 UNNAMED 4,219 79 km
1986 BIG RUN 4,161 85 km
2008 ANGEL 4,129 87 km
2018 UNNAMED 4,022 99 km
2019 UNNAMED 3,569 91 km
2021 UNNAMED 3,518 87 km
2002 MARBLEYARD 3,123 37 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 3.1 in Coldest
February 38°F (3°C) 3.1 in Driest
March 46°F (8°C) 3.7 in
April 55°F (13°C) 3.3 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.3 in
June 71°F (22°C) 3.5 in
July 72°F (22°C) 4.4 in Wettest
August 74°F (23°C) 3.7 in Warmest
September 68°F (20°C) 3.7 in
October 57°F (14°C) 3.9 in
November 47°F (9°C) 3.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.2 in

Amherst has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 30°F in January to 74°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 43.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (3.1").

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