Amherst, VA vs Fort Chiswell, VA

Amherst is moderately more affordable than Fort Chiswell, with a 12.1% lower cost of living index. Amherst scores 70 compared to 80 for Fort Chiswell, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Chiswell can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Amherst is $686/month compared to $955/month in Fort Chiswell — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Amherst has cheaper rent, Fort Chiswell actually has lower median home values ($191,700 vs $213,300).

Median household income in Amherst is $71,313 compared to $85,147 in Fort Chiswell (-16.2%). While Fort Chiswell is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Amherst spend roughly 11.5% of their income on rent, less than the 13.5% in Fort Chiswell.