Population 13,893 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Amherst
Household size in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Amherst has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.44 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.3 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.7 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.6 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.5 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Amherst is young: half of its residents are under 32.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has dropped from 35.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only four of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Amherst: 6.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Amherst
Renters in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 54.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.0% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Amherst rent: 53.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 44.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Amherst than nationally: 12.4%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 6.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Amherst are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Massachusetts overall, where the median home dates to 1963. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,022 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,110 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,472 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,741 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$719 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Amherst pays $1,741 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Massachusetts overall ($1,860). Rent has climbed $719 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 38.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Amherst
Bachelor's degrees in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.5% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 68.2% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.8% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 75.3% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Amherst is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (75.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.3% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.0% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Amherst: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Amherst has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.7 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Amherst compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 2.50 | 32.6 | 6.5% | 53.4% | 12.4% | 1977 | $1,741 | 75.3% | 96.6% | 3.2% |
| Amherst Center | 2.25 | 24.5 | 7.4% | 62.7% | 24.7% | 1970 | $2,234 | 54.3% | 98.5% | 12.9% |
| West Pelham | 2.49 | 45.0 | 6.2% | 20.9% | 8.8% | 1958 | $1,205 | 64.8% | 98.5% | 6.6% |
| Hadley | 2.41 | 44.0 | 6.4% | 25.4% | 5.9% | 1971 | $1,596 | 64.8% | 97.5% | 4.2% |
| South Amherst | 2.26 | 56.1 | 3.7% | 20.5% | 10.8% | 1977 | $2,963 | 81.8% | 98.7% | 3.8% |
| Factory Hollow | 2.35 | 46.1 | 6.3% | 29.3% | 6.4% | 1977 | $1,393 | 69.9% | 95.0% | 4.9% |
| Pelham | 2.50 | 46.5 | 6.6% | 17.3% | 9.6% | 1964 | $1,355 | 66.3% | 98.4% | 6.4% |
| Hatfield | 2.32 | 49.7 | 8.7% | 22.4% | 3.9% | 1963 | $1,237 | 49.1% | 93.5% | 1.4% |
| Sunderland | 2.20 | 36.6 | 5.0% | 54.1% | 5.5% | 1980 | $1,571 | 64.0% | 96.6% | 5.1% |
| Leverett | 2.30 | 51.8 | 3.5% | 16.8% | 11.5% | 1974 | $1,456 | 68.4% | 94.8% | 8.7% |
| West Hatfield | 2.21 | 42.9 | 21.1% | 34.4% | 6.0% | 1973 | $1,373 | 50.7% | 97.2% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Key Biscayne, FL · Hampstead, MD · Croton On Hudson, NY · Sanger, TX · McFarland, CA · San Elizario, TX · Mendota, CA · Stella Rincon, PR · Bogart, GA · Hidalgo, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Amherst. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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