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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Amherst, VA Housing Affordability Index

Amherst, Virginia has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 135.3 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 98th most affordable of 344 scored Virginia cities, compared with 94.8 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $220,700 home with 20% down, the Virginia average 30-year fixed rate of 7.33% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,214, or 21% of the city’s $70,841 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Amherst is updated every night from live Virginia mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Amherst MBR-HAI 135.3 Highly Affordable
Rank in Virginia 98 of 344 1 = most affordable
Virginia 94.8 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.33% Virginia lenders
Median home value $220,700 U.S. Census Bureau

Amherst is 40.5 points above the Virginia score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Virginia index

View Amherst Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Amherst

$1,214/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.33%
$52,000
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$70,841
Median Household Income
Virginia: $93,170
3.1x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Virginia: 4.1x
$755/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$923/yr
Median Property Tax
0.42% of median value
38.3%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
44.1%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Amherst, Virginia. The rate is the Virginia average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Amherst Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Amherst, Virginia score: 135.3 (Highly Affordable), ranked 98 of 344 Virginia cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/virginia/amherst”