The Town FilesAmherst, Virginia
Town in Amherst County · population 2,110 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,700
- Household income
- $70,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.3
Amherst is a town of 2,110 people in Amherst County, Virginia. The median home is worth $220,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 93% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Virginia towns.
How Amherst ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amherst is worth $220,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $70,841, which is more affordable than 78% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 70.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amherst | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $718 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $70,841 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Amherst
| People | Amherst | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 91.8% |
Weather in Amherst
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 15, 2018 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Amherst County since 1996
Amherst County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Amherst County
Amherst County had 8,168 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,248 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Amherst itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Amherst
5 public schools with 2,291 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst County High | 9-12 | 1,243 | 15.0 |
| Amherst Middle | 6-8 | 356 | 11.9 |
| Central Elementary | PK-5 | 323 | 12.0 |
| Amherst Elementary | PK-5 | 267 | 13.4 |
| Temperance Elementary | PK-5 | 102 | 14.6 |
Towns near Amherst
- Madison Heights, VA9.6 mi · 10,893 people · home $191,300
- Arrington, VA10.9 mi · 718 people · home $220,600
- Lynchburg, VA14.9 mi · 79,009 people · home $229,800
- Lovingston, VA16.4 mi · 503 people · home $294,100
- Concord, VA16.8 mi · 1,557 people · home $227,600
- Forest, VA18.9 mi · 11,709 people · home $319,800
- Buena Vista, VA19.6 mi · 6,641 people · home $156,200
- Appomattox, VA19.8 mi · 1,919 people · home $162,300
Amherst questions
Is Amherst, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amherst scores better for retirees than 93% of Virginia towns and quieter than 51%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Amherst?
The median owner-occupied home in Amherst is valued at $220,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,841, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Amherst?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.0 inches of snow.
Does Amherst get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)