Population 467 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Amherst
Household size in South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.99 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.27 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
South Amherst is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 1.99 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 56.1, South Amherst is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in South Amherst: 3.7% of households, against 11.6% 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 South Amherst
Renters in South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
South Amherst is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 61.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in South Amherst is close to the national rate: 10.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Massachusetts as a whole (7.9%).
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in South 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.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,748 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,010 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,306 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,963 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,215 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in South Amherst pays $2,963 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 37.8% of household income on rent, 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 South Amherst
Bachelor's degrees in South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.6% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.4% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 81.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
South Amherst is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (81.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.6% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.0% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.0% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.7% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in South Amherst: 98.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 South Amherst
| Period | South Amherst | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.9% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Amherst runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% 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).
South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Amherst | 2.26 | 56.1 | 3.7% | 20.5% | 10.8% | 1977 | $2,963 | 81.8% | 98.7% | 3.8% |
| Hadley | 2.41 | 44.0 | 6.4% | 25.4% | 5.9% | 1971 | $1,596 | 64.8% | 97.5% | 4.2% |
| 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% |
| Granby | 2.63 | 45.6 | 3.5% | 5.9% | 9.0% | 1967 | $1,431 | 38.2% | 95.0% | 2.5% |
| Belchertown | 2.55 | 43.8 | 5.4% | 13.2% | 4.5% | 1983 | $1,388 | 46.6% | 97.4% | 2.3% |
| West Pelham | 2.49 | 45.0 | 6.2% | 20.9% | 8.8% | 1958 | $1,205 | 64.8% | 98.5% | 6.6% |
| Pelham | 2.50 | 46.5 | 6.6% | 17.3% | 9.6% | 1964 | $1,355 | 66.3% | 98.4% | 6.4% |
| Northampton | 1.93 | 37.4 | 10.3% | 55.6% | 6.2% | 1953 | $1,586 | 67.4% | 95.2% | 5.8% |
| Hatfield | 2.32 | 49.7 | 8.7% | 22.4% | 3.9% | 1963 | $1,237 | 49.1% | 93.5% | 1.4% |
| South Hadley | 2.26 | 45.7 | 6.3% | 23.2% | 5.1% | 1962 | $1,267 | 54.8% | 96.8% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Middlesex, PA · Red Creek, WV · Rangerville, TX · Randolph, VA · Quitsna, NC · Quinerly, NC · Monroe, SD · Mize, KY · Minerva, KY · Mineral, 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 South 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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