Population 5,223 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in North Amherst
Household size in North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.67 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.67 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.65 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.65 people per household, North Amherst sits right at the national average. The typical household here is bigger than in Amherst as a whole, where it has 2.50 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.45, even as the national average fell.
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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.6 | 35.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.2 | 33.3 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 26.0 | 32.7 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 25.2 | 32.6 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −6.4 | −2.5 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 25.2, North Amherst is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 31.6, even as the national median rose.
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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 11.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 13.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 6.5% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −4.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in North Amherst: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Amherst as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 North Amherst
Renters in North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.7% | 50.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 72.1% | 54.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.1% | 52.0% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 69.9% | 53.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in North Amherst rent: 69.9% 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, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.8 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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 5.9% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 7.2% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 10.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 12.4% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +6.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.7% of the housing in North Amherst, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 8.3 points, 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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1973 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1974 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1975 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1977 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in North Amherst are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1969 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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $888 | $1,022 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,045 | $1,110 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,359 | $1,472 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,778 | $1,741 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$890 | +$719 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in North Amherst costs $1,778 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $890 a month since 2006–10, up 100%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 40.6% 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 North Amherst
Bachelor's degrees in North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.7% | 64.5% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 71.8% | 68.2% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.1% | 65.8% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.2% | 75.3% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +10.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in North Amherst: 76.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.0% | 95.3% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.2% | 94.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.5% | 96.0% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 96.6% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +1.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in North Amherst: 96.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Amherst. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.7 points since 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 North Amherst
| Period | North Amherst | Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 7.1% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.5 pts | −4.7 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in North Amherst has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 9.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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).
North Amherst compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Amherst | 2.65 | 25.2 | 6.3% | 69.9% | 13.7% | 1979 | $1,778 | 76.2% | 96.7% | 2.6% |
| East Village | 2.27 | 37.0 | 4.4% | 43.0% | 16.0% | 1979 | $1,629 | 81.7% | 98.2% | 4.6% |
| South Amherst | 2.56 | 42.5 | 10.1% | 36.1% | 10.7% | 1973 | $2,107 | 76.4% | 96.8% | 2.1% |
| East Springfield | 2.57 | 40.9 | 19.9% | 23.4% | 3.7% | 1952 | $1,266 | 16.3% | 86.8% | 3.9% |
| Boston Road | 2.49 | 40.0 | 13.8% | 33.6% | 14.4% | 1966 | $1,304 | 14.3% | 83.3% | 5.5% |
| Pine Point | 2.82 | 37.1 | 25.4% | 36.7% | 6.8% | 1951 | $1,487 | 21.5% | 82.3% | 7.6% |
| Liberty Heights | 2.83 | 33.5 | 25.1% | 51.6% | 10.8% | 1947 | $1,225 | 18.9% | 79.4% | 11.3% |
| Bay | 2.94 | 27.2 | 32.2% | 64.5% | 15.1% | 1943 | $1,089 | 13.1% | 70.5% | 8.5% |
| McKnight | 3.00 | 35.0 | 27.3% | 56.2% | 10.9% | 1938 | $981 | 13.2% | 72.2% | 12.1% |
| Sixteen Acres | 2.51 | 38.8 | 16.7% | 23.8% | 3.8% | 1964 | $1,333 | 33.4% | 91.2% | 5.0% |
| Memorial Square | 2.87 | 30.1 | 30.2% | 82.4% | 9.5% | 1949 | $1,004 | 12.9% | 60.2% | 21.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Manitocannon Hill, Spokane, WA · South Worcester, Worcester, MA · South Shore of Wellington, Wellington, FL · South Rose Hill, Kirkland, WA · South Post, Fort Belvoir, VA · South Poplar, Allentown, PA · South Menomonie, Menomonie, WI · South East End, Grand Rapids, MI · Seccombe Lane, San Bernardino, CA · North University, Austin, 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 North 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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