Amherst is a small town of 1,015 in Texas, with a median household income of $52,067
and a 1.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Amherst stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Amherst is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Amherst 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: 82.5
Amherst's overall cost of living index is 82.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Amherst costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Amherst, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$37,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$593
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,067
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Amherst's violent crime rate is 224.9 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
224.9 /100k
Property Crime
651.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Amherst is served primarily by AMHERST ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Amherst, TX
National Avg
School District
AMHERST ISD
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Amherst sees average highs of 53.9°F in January
and 92.5°F in July,
with 18.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.8 inches of snow per year.
Amherst's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Amherst roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $37,600 and median rent is $593/month.
Amherst's violent crime rate is 224.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 651.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Amherst are operated by AMHERST ISD.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 5.3:1. 6.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Amherst, TX has a population of 1,015, a median household income of $52,067, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Amherst averages 53.9°F in January and 92.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.0 inches
with about 6.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Amherst, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79312.
The population of Amherst, Texas is 1,015 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Amherst: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $37,600, median household income $52,067, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Amherst side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
