The Best Home Security Systems in Amherst County, VA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Amherst County, VA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Amherst County, VA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Amherst County every 22 hours 39 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Amherst County experiences 12.32 property crimes per 1000 people and 4.867 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Amherst County, VA
Best Overall
ADT
We believe ADT is the best home security system for residents of Amherst County. A higher median income of $62,582 along with an aging population (the median age in Amherst County is 46) solidifies ADT as our recommendation.
No Contract Pick
Simplisafe
These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Amherst County, VA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Amherst County, VA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Amherst County, VA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Amherst County, VA
Our analysis gives Amherst County a property crime grade of: B. Amherst County is in the 38th percentile of safety, meaning 38% of cities in Virginia are safer and 62% are more dangerous. Please visit our Amherst County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the eastern part of Amherst County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 62. Compare this to the northern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 123.
B
C+ |
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B |
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Other Crime Grade |
B |
A crime occurs every 13 hours 1 minute (on average) in Amherst County, VA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Amherst County safe? Compared to all of Virginia, Amherst County is rated safer than the average Virginia county, which has a property crime rate of 23.20 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Amherst County, with its burglary rate of 3.430 per 1000, is as safe as the average Virginia county.
In addition, Amherst County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Amherst County, VA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Amherst County, VA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
7.713 |
242 |
4.7 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.170 |
37 |
0.7 |
Burglary |
3.430 |
108 |
2.1 |
Arson |
0.0115 |
0 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Amherst County, VA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Amherst County, VA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Amherst County, VA is 57.09 degrees, reaching 94.39 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 87.14 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Amherst County was built in 1978, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Virginia build in 1984.
Between average seasonal temperatures and average home ages in Amherst County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Amherst County, VA
Amherst County, VA gets an average rainfall of 1.6" per year. This is higher than the average of 1.1" for Virginia.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Amherst County, VA
Amherst County, VA reaches an average of 46.30 degrees in its cold months of January & December. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 52.91 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Amherst County is 45 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Virginia home that's 39 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Amherst County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Amherst County, VA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Amherst County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 24.18% (7,570) of people in Amherst County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 75.82% or 23,737 of Amherst County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 86% of people who commute an average of 34 minutes to work in or around Amherst County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 5% of Amherst County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Amherst County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $62,582 annually. In addition, 22.0% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Amherst County is $180,053. Compared to the median home value in Virginia of $323,261, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Amherst County, VA
There are 6 police stations within the boundaries of Amherst County, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Amherst County center, there are 106 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Amherst County may be slower. When response times can be improved, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| County Of Amherst 115 Taylor St Amherst, VA 24521 (434) 946-9301 countyofamherst.com |
Amherst Mayor's Office 186 South Main St Amherst, VA 24521 (434) 946-7885 amherstva.gov |
Amherst County Sheriff 115 Taylor St Amherst, VA 24521 (434) 946-7585 countyofamherst.com |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Amherst County, VA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Amherst County, VA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham County, VA | B- | C- | about as safe |
| Botetourt County, VA | B+ | B | more safe |
| Cumberland County, VA | C | C | less safe |
| Craig County, VA | C | C | less safe |
| Powhatan County, VA | A | B+ | more safe |
| Monroe County, WV | A | A | more safe |
| Chesterfield County, VA | B | B- | about as safe |
| Henrico County, VA | C | B- | less safe |
| Richmond City, VA | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| Hanover County, VA | A- | A+ | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Amherst County, VA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Amherst County, VA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seward County, KS | C- | C- | less safe |
| Escambia County, AL | D- | D | less safe |
| Vilas County, WI | D- | F | less safe |
| Cassia County, ID | C | C | less safe |
| Lincoln County, WI | C+ | B- | less safe |
| Morton County, ND | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Waldo County, ME | C+ | B+ | less safe |
| Fajardo Municipio, PR | B | D | about as safe |
| Morrison County, MN | A- | A- | more safe |
| Luna County, NM | B+ | C+ | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Amherst County, VA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Amherst County, VA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Amherst County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
ADT, Simplisafe, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Amherst County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Amherst County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 22 hours 39 minutes in Amherst County.
- The county experiences 12.32 property crimes and 4.867 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Amherst County's property crime grade stands at an 'B', comparably safer than other Virginia {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- ADT: We believe ADT is the best home security system for residents of Amherst County. A higher median income of $62,582 along with an aging population (the median age in Amherst County is 46) solidifies ADT as our recommendation.
- Simplisafe: These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 94.39 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & December temperatures averaging 46.30 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.6" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 45 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 24.18% of Amherst County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 86% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Amherst County's lower household median income of $62,582 and 22.0% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Amherst County hosts 6 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.