Population 31,485 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Amherst County
Household size in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Amherst County has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.36, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Amherst County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 41.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Amherst County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Amherst County
Renters in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Amherst County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 43.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 5.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Amherst County than nationally: 12.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 3.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Amherst County was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are older than in Virginia as a whole, where the median home dates to 1984.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $606 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $704 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $741 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,029 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$423 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Amherst County costs $1,029 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $423 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Amherst County
Bachelor's degrees in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Amherst County: 25.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.6% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.1 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Amherst County is close to the national rate: 89.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Virginia as a whole (91.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.1 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Amherst County
| Period | Amherst County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Amherst County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (4.3%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Amherst County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst County | 2.47 | 43.9 | 8.1% | 19.2% | 12.2% | 1980 | $1,029 | 25.2% | 89.9% | 5.3% |
| Buckingham County | 2.37 | 43.3 | 12.9% | 22.7% | 14.5% | 1990 | $1,003 | 15.1% | 85.7% | 4.5% |
| Botetourt County | 2.58 | 47.9 | 7.1% | 14.5% | 12.4% | 1984 | $1,171 | 29.0% | 94.4% | 2.5% |
| Cumberland County | 2.44 | 47.0 | 13.9% | 24.1% | 15.2% | 1985 | $1,030 | 21.6% | 86.0% | 3.1% |
| Craig County | 2.89 | 47.8 | 4.3% | 16.3% | 27.2% | 1981 | $706 | 19.6% | 86.6% | 2.4% |
| Powhatan County | 2.73 | 45.7 | 6.8% | 6.8% | 8.2% | 1997 | $1,113 | 35.1% | 92.1% | 3.6% |
| Monroe County | 2.89 | 45.5 | 8.2% | 13.1% | 26.1% | 1977 | $691 | 15.7% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| Chesterfield County | 2.73 | 39.9 | 11.4% | 23.3% | 6.1% | 1992 | $1,842 | 44.0% | 92.7% | 4.5% |
| Henrico County | 2.49 | 41.1 | 11.8% | 35.5% | 6.3% | 1984 | $1,697 | 47.1% | 93.4% | 3.8% |
| Richmond City | 2.20 | 35.6 | 14.7% | 56.5% | 9.6% | 1961 | $1,376 | 45.4% | 89.0% | 6.4% |
| Hanover County | 2.63 | 43.4 | 8.5% | 17.9% | 5.3% | 1990 | $1,773 | 42.8% | 94.3% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Seward County, KS · Escambia County, AL · Vilas County, WI · Cassia County, ID · Lincoln County, WI · Morton County, ND · Waldo County, ME · Fajardo Municipio, PR · Morrison County, MN · Luna County, NM
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Amherst County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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