The Town FilesAmherst, Ohio
City in Lorain County · population 12,681 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,200
- Household income
- $90,725
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.8
Amherst is a city of 12,681 people in Lorain County, Ohio. The median home is worth $239,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 76% of Ohio towns, more upscale than 74% of Ohio towns.
How Amherst ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amherst is worth $239,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $90,725, which is more affordable than 53% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amherst | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $906 | $914 |
| Median household income | $90,725 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Amherst
| People | Amherst | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 90.9% |
Weather in Amherst
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 7, 2011.
Severe weather in Lorain County since 1996
Lorain County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 15, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1580: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Lorain County
Lorain County had 98,291 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,721 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Amherst itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Amherst
4 public schools with 3,612 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powers Elementary School | PK-3 | 1,140 | 19.3 |
| Marion L Steele High School | 9-12 | 1,065 | 20.9 |
| Amherst Junior High School | 6-8 | 856 | 18.6 |
| Walter G. Nord Middle School | 4-5 | 551 | 17.8 |
Towns near Amherst
- Lorain, OH3.6 mi · 65,211 people · home $139,200
- Vermilion, OH4.4 mi · 10,659 people · home $183,600
- Elyria, OH6.9 mi · 52,656 people · home $156,100
- Sheffield, OH8.0 mi · 4,135 people · home $292,700
- Oberlin, OH8.3 mi · 8,555 people · home $225,600
- Sheffield Lake, OH9.0 mi · 8,957 people · home $167,000
- North Ridgeville, OH10.9 mi · 35,280 people · home $270,100
- Avon, OH12.1 mi · 24,847 people · home $395,900
Amherst questions
Is Amherst, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amherst scores better for retirees than 59% of Ohio towns and quieter than 37%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Amherst?
The median owner-occupied home in Amherst is valued at $239,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,725, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Amherst?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 47.0 inches of snow.
Does Amherst get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)