County · Virginia
Amherst County, Virginia
Amherst County, Virginia. Amherst County had 31,962 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 51009.
Amherst County is one of the 5 counties of the Lynchburg, VA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
31,962
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 31,307 · ACS 2020-2024: 31,485
Median household income
$68,724
±$3,768 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$212,400
±$9,118 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$871
±$71 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Amherst County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 31,307 residents in Amherst County. The Census Bureau estimates 31,962 for July 1, 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 31,485 over 474 square miles of land.
| Measure | Amherst County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 31,485 | 8,705,170 | −290 |
| Households | 12,694±312 | 3,365,732 | +534 |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.06 | 2.52 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 14,364±59 | 3,684,756 | +174 |
Amherst County's population since 2000
From 31,894 in 2000 to 31,962 in 2025: up 0.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Amherst County?
Amherst County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Madison Heights with 10,266 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Madison Heights | 10,893 | $60,215 |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 2,110 | $70,841 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Amherst County?
The median resident of Amherst County is 43.4 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 21.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 16.9%. 1.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Amherst County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4±0.5 | 39.0 | −1.4 |
| Under 18 years | 20.0%±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.8%±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.9% | 11.0% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.7%±0.5 pts | 58.4% | −1.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 16.9%±0.8 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4%±0.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7%±0.4 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.7%±0.7 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1%±1.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2%±1.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8%±1.4 pts | 6.9% | −2.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.7%±1.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.7%±1.9 pts | 42.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.3%±1.5 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Amherst County earn?
Half of Amherst County's 12,694 households earn less than $68,724 a year (±$3,768), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $65,089 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Amherst County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,724±$3,768 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,902±$6,400 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,580±$2,685 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8%±1.8 pts | 9.9% | −3.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.0%±4.0 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.5%±1.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.5%±2.4 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Amherst County?
Owners occupy 80.8% of Amherst County's occupied homes and renters 19.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $212,400 by its owner (±$9,118). The median renter pays $871 a month including utilities, and 36.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Amherst County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $212,400±$9,118 | $383,700 | +$20,904 |
| Median gross rent | $871±$71 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.8%±8.0 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,301±$45 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.8%±2.3 pts | 67.3% | +3.7 pts |
| Housing units | 14,364±59 | 3,684,756 | +174 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3%±1.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.2%±3.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.9%±2.1 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.5%±1.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.6%±1.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Amherst County building?
Builders took permits for 112 new housing units across Amherst County in 2025 (112 single-family), 3.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Amherst County get to work?
78.0% of Amherst County's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Amherst County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.0%±1.7 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7%±1.4 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.0%±2.5 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.0%±2.1 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.1%±2.0 pts | 18.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.9 min±1.7 | 27.3 min | −2.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Amherst County's census tracts?
Amherst County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $48,652 (Tract 104.01) to $92,724 (Tract 102.02).
| Tract 10151009010100 | 5,072±653 | $68,991 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 102.0151009010201 | 4,938±418 | $86,078 |
| Tract 102.0251009010202 | 2,718±511 | $92,724 |
| Tract 10351009010300 | 3,482±328 | $75,625 |
| Tract 104.0151009010401 | 3,426±443 | $48,652 |
| Tract 104.0251009010402 | 2,770±301 | $70,817 |
| Tract 105.0451009010504 | 3,984±384 | $54,571 |
| Tract 105.0551009010505 | 1,016±234 | $56,250 |
| Tract 105.0651009010506 | 1,656±342 | $56,667 |
| Tract 10651009010600 | 2,423±287 | $65,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Amherst County compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 57th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 61st of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 86th of 133 |
| Median household income | 67th of 133 |
| Median home value | 89th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 97th of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 74th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79th of 133 |
| Median age | 63rd of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Amherst County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.