Amherst is a town located in Amherst County Virginia. Amherst has a 2024 population of 2,114. It is also the county seat of Amherst County. Amherst is currently growing at a rate of 0.05% annually and its population has increased by 0.24% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,109 in 2020.
The average household income in Amherst is $81,865 with a poverty rate of 6.5%. The median age in Amherst is 44.6 years: 40.8 years for males, and 52.2 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Amherst was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,777 | 83.66% |
| Black or African American | 306 | 14.41% |
| Two or more races | 28 | 1.32% |
| Other race | 7 | 0.33% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.19% |
| Native American | 2 | 0.09% |
| Asian | 0 | 0% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Native American
Asian
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 911 | 2.14 | 69.9 | 30.1 |
| Married | 429 | 2.79 | 89.3 | 10.7 |
| Non Family | 379 | 1.04 | 47 | 53 |
| Female | 72 | 3.39 | 72.2 | 27.8 |
| Male | 31 | 3.74 | 77.4 | 22.6 |
2.83
Average Family Size
2.14
Average Household Size
69.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 106 | 6.55% |
| Associates Degree | 123 | 7.6% |
| Bachelors Degree | 228 | 14.08% |
| Graduate Degree | 159 | 9.82% |
| High School Graduate | 685 | 42.31% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 72 | 4.45% |
| Some College | 246 | 15.19% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1,325 | 1,241 | 339 |
| Black | 263 | 175 | 41 |
| 2+ Races | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Other Race | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Hispanic | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Islander | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Native American | 2 | 2 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among other race people with a rate of 100%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $70,288 | $71,250 | $59,167 |
| Graduate Degree | $157,852 | $158,105 | $0 |
| High School Graduate | $48,125 | $69,896 | $41,250 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Overall | $56,725 | $74,740 | $40,758 |
| Some College | $47,344 | $73,958 | $28,792 |
$56,725
Average Earnings
$74,740
Average Male
$40,758
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
98.42% of Amherst residents speak only English, while 1.58% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 0.89% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1,598 | 96 | 6.01% |
| Black | 273 | 23 | 8.42% |
| Multiple | 28 | 6 | 21.43% |
6.5%
Overall Poverty Rate
5.14%
Male Poverty Rate
7.9%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Amherst is Multiple, with 21.43% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Amherst is White, with 6.01% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 0.63%. Among those working part-time, it was 3.21%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 16.64%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 36.64% |
| Some College | 7.1% |
| High School | 4.93% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 0% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Male Employed | 1.5% |
| Male Unemployed | 0% |
| Female Employed | 1.01% |
| Female Unemployed | 0% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $90,714 | $95,641 |
| Households | $71,313 | $81,865 |
| Married Families | $90,179 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $29,250 | $60,354 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
49.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
53.2%
Male Marriage Rate
46.4%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
125
Number of Veterans
117
Male Veterans
8
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 47 |
| Vietnam | 45 |
| Korea | 12 |
| First Gulf War | 7 |
| World War II | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 54 |
| 75+ | 27 |
| 18 to 34 | 20 |
| 35 to 54 | 17 |
| 55 to 64 | 7 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 86 | 6% |
| Black | 30 | 9.8% |
| 2+ Races | 5 | 27.78% |
| Islander | 4 | 100% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
3.36%
Veteran Poverty Rate
31.09%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
55%
Labor Force Participation
54.2%
Employment Rate
1.4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
73.87%
Born in Amherst
99.72%
Native Born
0.28%
Foreign Born
0.28%
Non Citizen
0%
Naturalized
99.72% of Amherst residents were born in the United States, with 73.87% having been born in Virginia. 0.28% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from North America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 2,121 | 2 | 0.09% |
| 2028 | 2,119 | 1 | 0.05% |
| 2027 | 2,118 | 1 | 0.05% |
| 2026 | 2,117 | 2 | 0.09% |
| 2025 | 2,115 | 1 | 0.05% |
| 2024 | 2,114 | 1 | 0.05% |
| 2023 | 2,113 | -5 | -0.24% |
| 2022 | 2,118 | 5 | 0.24% |
| 2021 | 2,113 | 4 | 0.19% |
| 2020 | 2,109 | -75 | -3.43% |
| 2019 | 2,184 | -8 | -0.36% |
| 2018 | 2,192 | -6 | -0.27% |
| 2017 | 2,198 | 2 | 0.09% |
| 2016 | 2,196 | -7 | -0.32% |
| 2015 | 2,203 | 5 | 0.23% |
| 2014 | 2,198 | -11 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 2,209 | -14 | -0.63% |
| 2012 | 2,223 | 9 | 0.41% |
| 2011 | 2,214 | -18 | -0.81% |
| 2010 | 2,232 | 0 | 0% |