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Cost of homeownership in Amherst County, Virginia

Real dollar cost of ownership, rent-vs-buy analysis, and flood risk, backed by Census ACS, FEMA, and FHFA data. Population: 31,426.

Median home value
$181,600
Median property tax
$968
Monthly owner cost
$1,231
with mortgage
Affordability (cost % of income)
14.2%

Total annual ownership cost

Breakdown of what owning a typical home in Amherst County costs each year.

  • Property taxes$968
  • Insurance estimate$1,500
  • Utilities / energy$1,650
  • Maintenance (1% of value)$1,816
  • Total$5,934/yr · $495/mo

Insurance and energy figures typically vary by property. Adjust in the calculators for a personalized estimate.

Total
$5,934
/ year

Rent vs. buy in Amherst County

Pre-filled with local median home value, median gross rent (Census ACS / HUD FMR), and current FRED rate.

Flood risk

Historical signal from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

LOW RISK
Total claims
4
Avg claim
$30,224
Active policies
6
Avg premium
$1,484
NFIP policy

Risk bucket is normalized as historical claims per 1,000 housing units, not raw count, so dense urban counties aren't penalized for size alone. Buckets: low (<1), moderate (1–10), high (10–50), very-high (50+). Amherst County: 0.32 per 1,000. Historical claims do not capture uninsured properties. For parcel-level flood-zone designations, use FEMA's Map Service Center.

Full flood-risk breakdown →

Home price trend in Virginia

FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.

vs. Virginia average
Home value below state average.
Property tax below state average.
Homeownership
75.7%

Share of units owner-occupied (Census ACS).

Median household income
$64,454

Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Housing cost burden in Amherst County

Share of households paying 30% or more of income on housing (HUD CHAS 2017-2021). HUD does not publish county-level CHAS rollups through the public API, so Virginia state data is shown for local context alongside the US average.

Virginia: 30%+ cost burdened
40.0%
2,164,965 households surveyed
Virginia: severely burdened (50%+)
17.6%
Paying at least half of income on housing.
Owner vs renter burden
Owner 30%+: 29.5%
Renter 30%+: 26.1%
Renters typically carry a heavier cost burden than owners with a fixed-rate mortgage.

Affordability by income bracket

Monthly 30% housing budget at each income vs the median owner cost in Amherst County. Bars above the dashed line can absorb this county's typical ownership cost.

HUD area median income (4-person household) for Virginia: $118,800. Income limits define 80% AMI at $95,050 and 50% AMI at $59,400.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Amherst County?

Based on Census ACS, typical total annual cost in Amherst County is around $5,934 ($495 per month), covering property tax, insurance estimate, utilities, and 1% maintenance. Your actual cost varies by home age, size, and location within the county.

What is the property tax in Amherst County?

Median annual property tax is $968 on the county's median home value of $181,600 (Census ACS).

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Amherst County?

On a monthly cash-flow basis, the typical owner-cost-with-mortgage in Amherst County runs about 52% above the county's median rent. That comparison doesn't account for the opportunity cost on your down payment, maintenance reserve, transaction costs, or how long you plan to stay — use the calculator below to model your specific break-even year against your time horizon.

What is the flood risk in Amherst County?

low historical flood-risk signal from FEMA NFIP: 4 claims (0.32 per 1,000 housing units), average claim $30,224. Bucket reflects claim density, not absolute claim count.

Data sources

Disclaimer. HomeRule is not a real estate agent, lender, appraiser, or financial advisor. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Actual costs vary significantly by property, location, and individual circumstances. Consult qualified professionals for personalized advice.