The Town FilesAmherst Town, Massachusetts
City in Hampshire County · population 39,263 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,900
- Household income
- $66,968
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 21.4
Amherst Town is a city of 39,263 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $484,900, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Massachusetts towns.
How Amherst Town ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amherst Town is worth $484,900, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 7.2 times the median household income of $66,968, which is more affordable than 8% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,671 a month. 44.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amherst Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,671 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $66,968 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 44.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Amherst Town
| People | Amherst Town | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 7.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 1.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.1% | — |
| Work from home | 21.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Amherst Town
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst Town since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 13, 1971 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 1, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 3, 1970.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Amherst Town itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Amherst Town
5 public schools with 2,193 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Regional High | 9-12 | 841 | 12.4 |
| Amherst Regional Middle School | 7-8 | 369 | 9.2 |
| Fort River Elementary | K-6 | 346 | 9.1 |
| Crocker Farm Elementary | PK-6 | 326 | 8.6 |
| Wildwood Elementary | K-6 | 311 | 9.4 |
Towns near Amherst Town
- Hadley, MA3.2 mi · 5,325 people · home $511,000
- Hatfield, MA5.9 mi · 3,352 people · home $440,800
- Sunderland, MA7.4 mi · 3,663 people · home $458,100
- Belchertown, MA8.0 mi · 15,350 people · home $371,300
- Granby, MA8.2 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- South Hadley, MA8.3 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
- Belchertown, MA8.3 mi · 3,129 people · home $346,900
- Northampton, MA8.9 mi · 29,571 people · home $429,700
Amherst Town questions
Is Amherst Town, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amherst Town scores better for retirees than 14% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 5%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.4).
How much does a house cost in Amherst Town?
The median owner-occupied home in Amherst Town is valued at $484,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,968, so homes cost about 7.2 times income. Median rent is $1,671 a month.
What is the weather like in Amherst Town?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Amherst Town get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst Town since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 13, 1971. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)