Is Amherst Town, MA a Good Place to Live?
Amherst Town is a small city of 33,389 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $68,427 and a 9.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.
Strengths: Amherst Town stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Amherst Town is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Amherst Town city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.4Amherst Town's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Amherst Town costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Amherst Town, MA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $443,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,484 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $68,427 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeAmherst Town's violent crime rate is 159.8 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Amherst Town is served primarily by Amherst. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Amherst Town, MA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Amherst | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 9.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 72.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 97.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Amherst Town sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation and 36.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Amherst Town, MA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 34.0°F |
| Average High — July | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | Amherst Town, MA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,389 | — |
| Median Age | 21.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 18.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 69.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 4.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 13.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 9.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Amherst Town
Amherst Town, MA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: