Amherst (formerly Dearborn) is a town in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Amherst had a population of 2,110. It is the county seat of Amherst County. Amherst is part of the Lynchburg metropolitan area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code24521

Area code434

Living in Amherst

Housing in Amherst

$297K▲ 3.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Amherst home is worth about $297,000, up 3.9% in a year, 28% below the Virginia typical home.

Only 3 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Amherst

Safety Grade B

Amherst reports less crime per resident than 63% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Amherst 0.5

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Amherst 8

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Amherst

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Amherst for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Lynchburg (24%), Madison Heights (3%) and Roanoke (2%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Lynchburg

24%

Madison Heights

Roanoke

Timberlake

15%Work in townlive and work in Amherst 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,014Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Amherst →

Health in Amherst

Health Grade C

Healthier than 30% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Virginia

1better than VA·12worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 19 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

82.6%More adults treating high blood pressureVA 76.8% · better 5%More adults who have had a strokeVA 3.3% · worse

Care nearby

Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen HospitalLynchburg · 13 mi · ER

Blue Ridge Medical Center--AmherstAmherst · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Amherst · CMS · HRSAHealth in Amherst →

Natural hazards in Amherst

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 28% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🌀 Hurricanes

30Does Amherst flood?paid flood claims since 1978 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Amherst

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Amherst →

Climate in Amherst

Full climate →

Amherst has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 28°Winter

68° / 44°Spring

85° / 64°Summer

69° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Amherst get?About 12 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 25, with the last in spring around Apr 15.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Amherst →

Schools in Amherst

All Amherst schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Amherst’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 59% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictAmherst County Public SchoolsSchools2

Amherst Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 307 students Amherst County High B+High · Grades 9–12 · 1,240 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.