Population 22,000 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Amherst
Household size in Amherst
| Period | Amherst | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.63 people per household, Amherst sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the Cleveland area overall, where it has 2.38 people. Household size has edged down from 2.68 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.3 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.9 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Amherst skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Amherst (8.9%), below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national share fell.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Amherst is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 35.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.0 points, 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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.6% of homes in Amherst are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Amherst are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Cleveland area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1966. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $737 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $823 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $772 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $892 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$155 | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in Amherst runs $892 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $155 a month from 2006–10, a 21% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southwest.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.1% | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Amherst (28.1%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Amherst: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Amherst is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.3 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.63 | 44.1 | 8.9% | 15.1% | 5.6% | 1978 | $892 | 28.1% | 94.6% | 5.1% |
| South Amherst | 2.47 | 45.8 | 11.4% | 16.3% | 6.1% | 1961 | $1,236 | 17.9% | 93.9% | 5.9% |
| Lorain | 2.42 | 41.1 | 17.1% | 42.8% | 10.4% | 1962 | $887 | 14.6% | 84.8% | 5.7% |
| Fields | 2.81 | 39.0 | 28.2% | 34.8% | 16.7% | 1964 | $932 | 9.8% | 77.9% | 15.1% |
| Henrietta | 2.47 | 51.7 | 2.7% | 16.4% | 4.9% | 1972 | $1,135 | 22.0% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Elyria | 2.35 | 41.3 | 13.5% | 36.6% | 8.6% | 1964 | $984 | 17.8% | 87.3% | 5.9% |
| Vermilion | 2.24 | 50.1 | 6.7% | 20.2% | 13.6% | 1975 | $981 | 33.1% | 94.0% | 6.2% |
| Oberlin | 2.27 | 38.3 | 6.3% | 34.9% | 8.3% | 1967 | $1,306 | 45.5% | 95.6% | 5.4% |
| Sheffield | 2.60 | 51.6 | 4.5% | 27.8% | 2.2% | 1996 | $1,512 | 43.7% | 95.9% | 2.8% |
| Sheffield Lake | 2.09 | 44.0 | 17.9% | 31.7% | 6.8% | 1966 | $1,123 | 17.8% | 93.3% | 3.5% |
| Birmingham | 2.43 | 50.7 | 12.3% | 13.4% | 9.7% | 1978 | $1,305 | 19.5% | 92.7% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Davidson, NC · Branford, CT · Sartell, MN · Pleasant Prairie, WI · Pittsboro, NC · Palm Valley, FL · Clarks Summit, PA · Merrimack, NH · Mechanicsville, MD · Crest Hill, IL
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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