County profile · Virginia
Amherst County, VA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Amherst County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 31,962
- +2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 12,694
- Median household income
- $68,724
- +29.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $212,400
- Jobs located here
- 8,562
- Highest market score
- 86
- Insurance agencies, #112 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Amherst County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Amherst County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 31,962 people live in Amherst County, in 12,694 households. Population estimates put the population change in Amherst County from 2020 to 2025 at +2.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Amherst County is $68,724 a year, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 29.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Amherst County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 149, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Amherst County are for insurance agencies (86), coffee shops and cafes (75) and dentists and orthodontists (74). Amherst County ranks #112 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Amherst County is part of the Lynchburg metro area. For its number of households, Amherst County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (71% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Amherst County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Amherst County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 86 | #112 of 2,272 | 12 | 9.5 | $3.1M | 245 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 75 | #181 of 2,063 | 6 | 4.7 | $7.4M | 199 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 74 | #164 of 1,886 | 5 | 3.9 | $2.6M | 268 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 73 | #180 of 1,493 | 5 | 3.9 | $3.5M | 120 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 73 | #293 of 2,405 | 38 | 29.9 | $1.2M | 175 | 14 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 72 | #331 of 2,405 | 75 | 59.1 | $588K | 159 | 37 |
| Real estate | 71 | #185 of 2,229 | 14 | 11.0 | Index only | 300 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 71 | #204 of 1,771 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.9M | 174 | 17 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 70 | #335 of 2,394 | 34 | 26.8 | $388K | 254 | 13 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 70 | #375 of 2,210 | 13 | 10.2 | $1.7M | 194 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 69 | #240 of 2,176 | 12 | 9.5 | Index only | 278 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 69 | #310 of 2,385 | 27 | 21.3 | $392K | 184 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #444 of 2,339 | 18 | 14.2 | $589K | 137 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 64 | #540 of 2,087 | 9 | 7.1 | $2.5M | 194 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 60 | #578 of 2,057 | 13 | 10.2 | $2.6M | 108 | 19 |
| Pizza | 58 | #722 of 2,090 | 9 | 7.1 | $4.9M | 96 | 20 |
| Grocery stores | 57 | #786 of 2,070 | 9 | 7.1 | $8.1M | 88 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 54 | #646 of 1,485 | 5 | 3.9 | $2.1M | 77 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 50 | #1,226 of 2,401 | 46 | 36.2 | $287K | 107 | 24 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 49 | #917 of 1,707 | 11 | 8.7 | $3.1M | 65 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 49 | #1,239 of 2,358 | 31 | 24.4 | $1.4M | 58 | 16 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,203 of 2,200 | 16 | 12.6 | $651K | 74 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #1,237 of 2,222 | 18 | 14.2 | $2.5M | 80 | 20 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 46 | #1,363 of 2,402 | 28 | 22.1 | $2.6M | 77 | 10 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #1,373 of 2,378 | 28 | 22.1 | $471K | 106 | 21 |
| Tire shops | 43 | #963 of 1,530 | 8 | 6.3 | $1.6M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #1,481 of 2,261 | 15 | 11.8 | $4.9M | 62 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 38 | #1,014 of 1,461 | 6 | 4.7 | $1.7M | 68 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #1,551 of 2,088 | 14 | 11.0 | $571K | 86 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 36 | #983 of 1,302 | 5 | 3.9 | $2.6M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 33 | #1,050 of 1,327 | 7 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 61 | 5 |
| Gyms | 28 | #1,540 of 1,792 | 10 | 7.9 | $799K | 61 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $521K | 77 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.6M | 159 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $3.3M | 137 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $3.3M | 185 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $14.7M | 355 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $4.4M | 175 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $1.6M | 162 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $2.7M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 403 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $11.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $17.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $22.2M | Too few | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $17.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $10.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 9 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 10 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Amherst County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $13.2M | $1,039 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $43M | $3,386 | 130 |
| Food away from home | $44.1M | $3,476 | 85 |
| Groceries | $73.2M | $5,770 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $10.6M | $835 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.9M | $383 | 66 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8M | $630 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $13.2M | $1,039 | 81 |
| Pets | $10.4M | $821 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $22.2M | $1,747 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $36.9M | $2,909 | 149 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $34.2M | $2,696 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.5M | $1,382 | 98 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $181.7M | $14,317 | 86 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Amherst County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 31,962+2.1% since 2020
- Households
- 12,694
- Median age
- 44.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 474 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 66
- Median household income
- $68,724+29.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $86,902
- Median home value
- $212,400
- Jobs located here
- 8,562
- Daytime population
- 26,580Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Amherst County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Amherst County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
- Lynchburg city, VA79,497 people
- Appomattox County, VA16,610 people
- Campbell County, VA55,312 people
- Buena Vista city, VA6,593 people
- Nelson County, VA14,732 people
- Bedford County, VA80,894 people
- Rockbridge County, VA22,531 people
- Lexington city, VA7,525 people
Questions
How fast is Amherst County, VA growing?
Population estimates put Amherst County at 31,962 people in 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,694 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 29.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Amherst County, VA spend?
Households in Amherst County spend about $181.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $73.2M on groceries and $44.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Amherst County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 149, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Amherst County, VA?
Of the business types scored in Amherst County, insurance agencies (86), coffee shops and cafes (75) and dentists and orthodontists (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #112 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Amherst County, VA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Amherst County is $68,724, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $212,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (71% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 32 of the 56 business types have a score in Amherst County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Amherst County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Amherst County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Amherst County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.