Cost of Living in Amherst County, Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Amherst County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Amherst County ranks #1,724 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 45%)
Sourced county brief
Amherst County Renter Median Income Recorded at $40,455
Median renter-household income in Amherst County was $40,455 during the 2020-2024 period. The median gross rent for the county was $871 per month, which is $299 lower than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,170. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 27.0%, representing a 1.6 percentage point difference from the state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $212,400, while the state unweighted county mean was $295,808. Median selected monthly owner costs were $906, which is $284 below the state unweighted county mean of $1,190. These figures are from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Data Version: acs5-2020-2024. Methodology Version: cost-brief-v1. Last Reviewed At: 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Amherst County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.0% of renter household income in Amherst County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $871 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $906. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $34,840 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Amherst County's $871 median is 25.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Amherst County
Rent Burden
15.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,604
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.8%
of gross income
The median home in Amherst County may be a stretch
Median home value is $212,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,696 vs. your max of $1,604.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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