| Index | Amherst | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 94 | 109 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 101 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 130 | 100 |
| Transportation | 88 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 104 | 100 |
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $72,500 | $6,042 | $1,692 | $2,175 |
| Renters | $35,000 | $2,917 | $817 | $1,050 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Virginia | 2% | 5.75% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $24.89 | $24.26 | 2.6% |
| Beauty Salon | $53.95 | $45.56 | 18.4% |
| Toothpaste | $3.79 | $3.70 | 2.3% |
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 | 4.6% |
| Movie | $13.59 | $12.13 | 12.0% |
| Bowling | $18.42 | $18.00 | 2.3% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $5.32 | $5.84 | 8.8% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 | 16.1% |
| Milk | $4.70 | $4.67 | 0.7% |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 | 4.7% |
| Pizza | $12.24 | $12.09 | 1.3% |
| Beer | $10.69 | $10.41 | 2.7% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $136.88 | $125.68 | 8.9% |
| Doctor | $139.83 | $135.78 | 3.0% |
| Dentist | $105.92 | $113.29 | 6.5% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.61 | $10.65 | 0.4% |
| Lipitor | $387.25 | $468.60 | 17.4% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $180,600.00 | $184,700.00 | 2.2% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $2,606.96 | $2,346.69 | 11.1% |
| Apartment Rent | $590.00 | $949.00 | 37.8% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 | 2.8% |
| Tire Balancing | $50.24 | $59.92 | 16.1% |
| Item | Amherst | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $213.27 | $193.99 | 9.9% |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 | 3.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lovingston, VA | 584 | 101 | 0.9% |
| Shipman, VA | 250 | 80 | 19.5% |
| Arrington, VA | 782 | 86 | 14.2% |
| Madison Heights, VA | 11,447 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 80,970 | 95 | 5.0% |
| Amherst, VA | 2,581 | 94 | 5.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Union, MS | 2,581 | 79 | 20.9% |
| West Newton, PA | 2,581 | 87 | 12.9% |
| Desert Hills, AZ | 2,580 | 98 | 1.8% |
| North Shore, CA | 2,580 | 103 | 2.6% |
| Bridgetown, MS | 2,580 | 100 | 0.4% |
| Amherst, VA | 2,581 | 94 | 5.6% |
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