PlainZIP

Amherst, VA · standard

ZIP Code 24521

Amherst County, Virginia — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

10,576
18/sq mi
$73,571
Median income
$240,900
Median home value
29.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Amherst pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 48%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 45%
home value, US ZIPs
18
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 24521 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 24521 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 600.9 square miles in Amherst, Amherst County, Virginia. The area is home to 10,576 residents, producing a population density of 18 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 24521 against Virginia and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 24521 sits at $73,571 (14% below the Virginia average), while per-capita income is $40,299. The poverty rate stands at 10.8% and the unemployment rate at 4.9%. On housing, the median home value is $240,900 (28% below the state average) with median rent at $846 per month, and 81.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 24521 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 29.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 additional ZIPs sharing Amherst County, so you can benchmark 24521 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 24521

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 24521.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 24521, Amherst, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

10,576

Population

600.9

Area (sq mi)

18

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 24521?

43.0

Median Age

47.0%

Male

53.0%

Female

2.0%

Foreign-Born

White 78.2%
African American 13.8%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$73,571

Median Household Income

-14% vs state

$40,299

Per Capita Income

10.8%

Poverty Rate

4.9%

Unemployment Rate

25.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 24521 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$73,571 Top 48% higher than 52% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 62.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,627

Total Housing Units

4,136

Occupied Units

491

Vacant Units

2.52

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.6%
Renter 18.4%

$240,900

Median Home Value

-28% vs state

$846

Median Rent

1982

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+10.5%

YoY Change (2024)

237

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+137%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 24521 have increased 10.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +137% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.6% 157
2021 +7.5% 169
2022 +18.0% 200
2023 +7.4% 214
2024 +10.5% 237

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 205 business establishments in ZIP 24521, employing approximately 1,823 people with a combined annual payroll of $88,749,000.

205

Businesses

1,823

Employees

$88.7M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 35 17.1%
Construction 31 15.1%
Retail trade 29 14.2%
Manufacturing 23 11.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 17 8.3%
Health care and social assistance 12 5.8%
Accommodation and food services 12 5.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 7 3.4%
Finance and insurance 7 3.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 3.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 3.4%
Transportation and warehousing 6 2.9%
Wholesale trade 4 1.9%
Information 4 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 24521 vs 24595 →

ZIP 24521 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 24521 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
24595 Sweet Briar, VA 679 5.4 mi
22964 Piney River, VA 261 8.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Amherst County

24572 standard
Madison Heights, VA
Pop: 16,395
24574 standard
Monroe, VA
Pop: 3,977
24595 standard
Sweet Briar, VA
Pop: 679

Related Areas

Amherst County Amherst, VA Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 24521 in? ▼
ZIP code 24521 (Amherst) is located in Amherst County, Virginia. Amherst County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/amherst-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 24521? ▼
ZIP code 24521 in Amherst, VA has a population of 10,576 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 24521? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 24521 is $73,571, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 24521? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 24521 is $240,900, which is 13% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 24521? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 24521 is White at 78.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 24521? ▼
ZIP code 24521 has 205 business establishments employing approximately 1,823 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 24521? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 24521 are: Other services (except public administration) (35), Construction (31), Retail trade (29). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 24521? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 24521 increased by 10.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 137%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 24521? ▼
In ZIP code 24521, 62.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 24521? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 24521 is 25.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 24521? ▼
In ZIP code 24521, approximately 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 24521? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 24521 is 10.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Amherst, VA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.