Population 8,052 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Amherst: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Amherst
Household size in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.23 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Amherst average 2.58 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has climbed from 2.34 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Amherst skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the southeast.
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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Amherst: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.2 points, 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
Renters in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.7% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.8% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Amherst is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 49.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.9 points, 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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Amherst: 12.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 3.2 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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Amherst are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $546 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $649 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $791 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,016 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$470 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Amherst runs $1,016 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $470 a month since 2006–10, up 86%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.1% 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 northwest 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
Bachelor's degrees in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Amherst than nationally: 31.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest 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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.9% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Amherst is close to the national rate: 89.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Virginia overall (91.6%). The share with a diploma is up 11.8 points from 2006–10, 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
| Period | Amherst | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Amherst: 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have higher unemployment. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 2.58 | 41.9 | 7.5% | 20.8% | 12.8% | 1981 | $1,016 | 31.0% | 89.1% | 6.9% |
| Sweet Briar | 2.50 | 37.0 | 7.4% | 20.9% | 7.5% | 1974 | $980 | 33.3% | 92.2% | 2.2% |
| Buffalo Hill | 2.98 | 36.3 | 7.5% | 11.7% | 14.0% | 1987 | $998 | 28.2% | 88.1% | 11.9% |
| New Glasgow | 3.16 | 32.4 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 17.8% | 1989 | $1,095 | 32.7% | 86.1% | 16.5% |
| Coolwell | 2.55 | 40.9 | 5.9% | 7.0% | 13.0% | 1989 | $768 | 22.2% | 90.5% | 0.8% |
| Clifford | 2.87 | 39.7 | 5.6% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 1989 | $858 | 20.1% | 91.9% | 2.9% |
| Fancy Hill | 2.68 | 42.0 | 7.9% | 22.8% | 23.6% | 1968 | $1,006 | 21.4% | 88.5% | 19.1% |
| Lowesville | 2.46 | 41.1 | 6.6% | 20.8% | 21.8% | 1970 | $949 | 26.4% | 88.9% | 11.2% |
| Monroe | 2.46 | 46.4 | 7.5% | 10.2% | 14.5% | 1982 | $1,125 | 32.1% | 89.6% | 1.8% |
| Gidsville | 2.67 | 42.4 | 8.2% | 23.1% | 23.3% | 1968 | $1,014 | 22.3% | 89.1% | 18.8% |
| Tye River | 2.62 | 40.0 | 3.1% | 11.3% | 17.5% | 1982 | $831 | 29.7% | 84.0% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Old Greenwich, CT · Fisherville, KY · Travilah, MD · Shepherdstown, WV · Shepherd, MI · Ligonier, PA · Forest Hill, MD · Fort Belvoir, VA · Seymour, MO · Seven Points, TX
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. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.