Virginia · County property tax · ACS 2024
Amherst County Property Taxes
The median homeowner in Amherst County pays $975 a year, an effective rate of 0.46%, 51% below the U.S. average.
- $975
- Median tax / yr
- 0.46%
- Effective rate
- -51%
- vs U.S. average
- #123 of 133
- rank in VA
The verdict
Homeowners in Amherst County pay a median $975 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.46%, more affordable than 88% of U.S. counties.
- $975
- Median annual tax bill, 2024
- 0.46%
- Effective rate on median home
- #389 of 3135
- U.S. counties by tax burden
- -51%
- vs the national average bill
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($212,400). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
Census Bureau ACS property tax data for Virginia. Owner-occupied homes: 10,262.
The median annual property tax in Amherst County is $975, which is 65% lower than the Virginia state average and 51% below the national average. The effective tax rate is 0.46% on a median home value of $212,400. Property taxes represent 1.4% of the median household income in this county. All property tax data shown below is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, which aggregates self-reported tax payments from homeowner households across the county. This page includes tax trends over multiple years, comparisons with neighboring counties, and a rent-versus-own cost analysis.
What This Data Tells Us About Amherst County
Homeowners in Amherst County pay a median annual property tax of $975, which is 51% lower than the national average and 65% below the Virginia state average. The effective tax rate of 0.46% on a median home value of $212,400 reflects how the local assessment base and millage combine into an actual bill.
Property taxes in Amherst County represent about 1.4% of the median household income of $68,724, compared with a common national benchmark of 2% to 4%. Homeowners with a mortgage report a median of $1,004 in annual property tax while those without a mortgage report $940 - a gap that usually reflects differences in home value rather than differences in tax rate. Compared with 2023, the median tax bill changed by -2.2%, which tracks reassessment cycles and changes in the underlying home value distribution.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe the median homeowner household in Amherst County as reported to the Census Bureau, your own bill can differ based on your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and municipal overlays. Always consult your county assessor, tax collector, or a qualified professional before making decisions that depend on these numbers.
With vs Without Mortgage
Homeowners with a mortgage typically own higher-valued properties, which can result in higher tax bills.
How Amherst County compares
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value), ACS 2024.
Amherst County's effective rate is higher than 8% of the 133 counties in Virginia - ranking #123 of 133 for property tax burden.
Where Amherst County sits among every U.S. county
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value)
0.46% Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% of 3,135 U.S. counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024
Amherst County vs Benchmarks
| Metric | Amherst County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Tax | $975 | $2,790 | $1,993 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 0.46% | 0.73% | 0.92% |
| Median Home Value | $212,400 | $383,700 | $227,791 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates. Tax-burden differences across rows reflect millage decisions, assessment-ratio practices, and the residential-vs-commercial mix of each tax base.
Think your Amherst County property tax bill is too high?
A successful appeal can lower your assessed value by 10-25%, cutting your annual tax bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Use our free Appeal Savings Estimator to project savings on your specific home, then read our step-by-step appeal guide for the exact procedure in Virginia.
Property Tax History
| Year | Median Tax | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $975 -2.2% | 0.46% |
| 2023 | $997 +3.0% | 0.51% |
| 2022 | $968 +6.7% | 0.53% |
| 2021 | $907 -0.4% | 0.55% |
| 2020 | $911 | 0.57% |
Tax Burden
Tax Affordability Score
Based on the effective tax rate of 0.46% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Property taxes in Amherst County are below average, making it a more affordable area for homeowners.
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this county's effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of Amherst County or any other county.
Other Counties in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average property tax in Amherst County, Virginia? ▼
How does Amherst County property tax compare to the national average? ▼
Does having a mortgage affect property taxes in Amherst County? ▼
What percentage of income goes to property taxes in Amherst County? ▼
Are property taxes increasing in Amherst County? ▼
How can I appeal my property tax assessment in Amherst County? ▼
What this means in Amherst County
How to use Amherst County's property-tax numbers, for budgeting, comparison, or an appeal.
- At Amherst County's 0.46% effective rate, a $212,400 home implies about $975/yr, plug in your own home's value to estimate your bill. Estimate your bill
- Amherst County ranks #123 of 133 counties in Virginia by effective rate, compare it against the rest of the state before you judge your bill. Virginia overview
- If your assessed value looks high relative to Amherst County's typical home, you may have grounds to appeal, most jurisdictions have a filing window each year. How to appeal
Effective rate is the county median tax divided by the county median home value ($212,400); your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies determine your actual bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
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Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Property tax data reflects median amounts paid by homeowners. Effective rates are calculated as median tax divided by median home value.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.