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Living in
Amherst.
About
Life in Amherst
Living in Amherst means being part of a college town where education and intellectual culture genuinely shape daily life—not just as a tourist draw, but as the actual foundation of the community. With nearly 74% of residents holding college degrees, you'll find a highly educated population, which creates a particular kind of social and cultural environment. Your commute will likely be short—averaging 19 minutes—which is a genuine quality-of-life win.
Amherst at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.7%
Foreign-Born
16.1%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.1% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Amherst: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Amherst, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (15.6%), and 5.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
7.5%
of residents
65 and Older
10.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.9%
of households
Married Couples
34.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MA
Rent, home values, and income in Amherst
In Amherst, home values are 14% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,787
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.2%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Amherst
Unemployment in Amherst is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Amherst Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18 min avg
How Amherst residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Amherst, most residents drive alone to work (41%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Amherst runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
139.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
295
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Amherst Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hampshire County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hampshire County, which includes Amherst, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,500 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,200 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $29,900 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $72,400 |
| 2021 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $89,000 |
| 2020 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $92,400 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,500 |
| 2018 | 21 | Strong Wind | $105,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hampshire County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hampshire County, which includes Amherst, is typically good — 312 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
312
per year
Moderate Days
49
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hampshire County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Amherst has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
153
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 14°F | 3.36" |
| Feb | 37°F | 15°F | 2.93" |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 3.47" |
| Apr | 58°F | 34°F | 3.79" |
| May | 70°F | 45°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 78°F | 55°F | 4.46" |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 82°F | 58°F | 4.12" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 4.62" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 4.74" |
| Nov | 50°F | 29°F | 3.38" |
| Dec | 39°F | 21°F | 3.89" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Amherst
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Amherst's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 mi away · Northampton
Northampton VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · 9.1 mi away · Leeds
Holyoke Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13 mi away · Holyoke
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Amherst
Amherst's student/teacher ratio is 10.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 75.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
75.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Public · 4-year · 23,671 students · in-state tuition $18,487 · 81% graduate · median earnings $80,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,911 students · in-state tuition $73,830 · 94% graduate · median earnings $95,161 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 839 students · in-state tuition $61,124 · 61% graduate · median earnings $47,422 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 3,591 students · in-state tuition $6,090 · 27% graduate · median earnings $44,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,544 students · in-state tuition $67,448 · 90% graduate · median earnings $69,936 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New England National Scenic Trail, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Amherst
Amherst has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New England National Scenic Trail (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
5 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
43 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
64 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Amherst
Jones Library, Inc.
43 Amity Street, Amherst
Munson Memorial Library
1046 South East Street, Amherst
North Amherst Library
8 Montague Road, Amherst
Cities Near Amherst
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Amherst?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Amherst FAQ
Is Amherst, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Amherst's median rent is $1,671/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $66,968/year. Median home value is $484,900.
Is Amherst, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Amherst's violent crime rate was 140 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 295 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Amherst, Massachusetts?⌄
Amherst has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Amherst, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Amherst is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,671/month and median household income is $66,968/year. The median home value is $484,900. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Amherst, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Amherst is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from