Population 12,319 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Amherst: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Amherst
Household size in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.87 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Amherst average 2.64 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in New Hampshire overall, where it has 2.51 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.87, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.6 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.8 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.2 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.2, Amherst is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.1% of households in Amherst, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only three have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 8.3% of households in Amherst rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 35.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 1.1% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Amherst: just 1.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 7.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Amherst has the lowest vacancy rate of any New Hampshire city with 5,000+ people.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Amherst are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,283 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,587 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,253 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,741 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$458 | +$580 | +$606 |
The median renter in Amherst pays $1,741 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $458 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the center.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.1% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 63.3% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.4% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 65.8% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Amherst is highly educated: about two-thirds of adults 25 and older (65.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only four of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.2% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.6% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.7% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.4% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Amherst: 99.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other New Hampshire city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of high school graduates.
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 | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Amherst has been strong: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 | 2.64 | 46.2 | 3.1% | 8.3% | 1.1% | 1979 | $1,741 | 65.8% | 99.4% | 1.5% |
| Milford | 2.50 | 39.4 | 11.5% | 36.5% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,562 | 34.9% | 95.4% | 2.4% |
| Merrimack | 2.79 | 42.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 1984 | $1,900 | 51.6% | 97.0% | 2.5% |
| Mont Vernon | 3.01 | 43.0 | 7.4% | 4.8% | 7.3% | 1979 | $1,154 | 51.5% | 96.1% | 2.2% |
| North Brookline | 3.08 | 36.3 | 5.2% | 10.5% | 8.7% | 1990 | $1,565 | 50.8% | 98.3% | 0.9% |
| East Merrimack | 1.94 | 42.1 | 8.5% | 29.6% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,019 | 42.3% | 95.8% | 0.1% |
| Bedford | 2.91 | 46.3 | 7.6% | 17.4% | 3.5% | 1989 | $2,133 | 63.9% | 97.2% | 1.6% |
| Wilton | 2.35 | 45.7 | 4.6% | 24.2% | 8.9% | 1970 | $1,636 | 37.9% | 94.3% | 1.7% |
| Hollis | 2.65 | 47.3 | 5.8% | 8.5% | 2.3% | 1982 | $2,208 | 57.3% | 97.2% | 2.0% |
| Litchfield | 2.81 | 43.9 | 5.5% | 12.1% | 2.5% | 1990 | $1,834 | 45.8% | 94.9% | 4.4% |
| Brookline | 3.14 | 41.4 | 8.2% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 1993 | $2,381 | 57.4% | 97.7% | 0.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Accokeek, MD · Manchester, MD · St. Marys, OH · Ellettsville, IN · Marengo, IL · Mary Esther, FL · Evanston, WY · Lake Ariel, PA · Toney, AL · Benton, LA
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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.