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Living in
Amherst.
About
Life in Amherst
Amherst is a community of 12,796 people in Ohio. The median household income is $90,725, median rent runs about $906 per month, and median home values are around $239,200. Unemployment is low at 4.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Amherst at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
89.7%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Cambodia
Who lives in Amherst: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Amherst, the largest foreign-born group is from Cambodia (20.7%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
21.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.6%
of households
Married Couples
57.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.64
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 12% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Amherst
In Amherst, rent runs 12% below the OH average, and home values are 11% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,139
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
88.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $281,991 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Amherst
Unemployment in Lorain County, which includes Amherst, is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Amherst: Lorain County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lorain County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Amherst is about 4% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Amherst Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.4 min avg
How Amherst residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Amherst, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Amherst runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
61
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
921.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Amherst Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lorain County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lorain County, which includes Amherst, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $260,600 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.8M |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $831,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | High Wind | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $297,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $487,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $143,000 |
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.
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lorain County, county-wide
Amherst is about 4% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lorain County, which includes Amherst, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lorain County, county-wide
Amherst is about 4% of Lorain County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Amherst has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.7"
Annual Snowfall
47.0"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
115
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
152
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 20°F | 2.11" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.66" |
| Mar | 45°F | 29°F | 2.48" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.28" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.56" |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.74" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.50" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.96" |
| Dec | 39°F | 26°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Amherst
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Amherst's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Lorain
Clear Vista Health & Wellness
Psychiatric · 2.6 mi away · Lorain
University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.3 mi away · Elyria
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.
Education19.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Amherst
Amherst's student/teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 31.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Amherst
Amherst has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
35 mi awayCuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
36 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Amherst
Amherst Public Library
221 Spring St, 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, Ohio affordable?⌄
Amherst's median rent is $906/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $90,725/year. Median home value is $239,200.
Is Amherst, Ohio safe?⌄
Amherst's violent crime rate was 61 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 922 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Amherst, Ohio?⌄
Lorain County, which includes Amherst, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Amherst, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Amherst is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $906/month and median household income is $90,725/year. The median home value is $239,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Amherst, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Amherst is 25 minutes, which is about 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