Homefactsby IDLookupNew search

Neighborhood report

Amherst, MA

Founded 1703Hampshire CountyElev. 90 m
Population
35,472
Median home
$454,000
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
5
Sex offenders
0

Overview

About Amherst

Amherst is home to roughly 35,472 residents. Amherst was founded in 1703 and sits in Hampshire County. The median age is 21.3 and the median household income is $65,938. Homes carry a median value of $454,000, and about 46% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (65.9%). Around 74% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 19 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Look up anyone in Amherst, MA
Search Amherst residents by name — addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal & public records.
Search people →

Who lives here

Demographics

Population
35,472
Median age
21.3
Median household income
$65,938
Per-capita income
$29,347
Poverty rate
24.1%
High-school grad or higher
97.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
73.8%
Unemployment
9%
Avg. commute
19 min
Work from home
19.3%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White65.9%
Hispanic or Latino8.9%
Black4.5%
Asian13.7%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts46.6%
Service29.6%
Sales & office14.7%
Production, transportation & material moving6.5%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance2.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$454,000
Median gross rent
$1,570/mo
Owner-occupied
45.9%
Median year built
1974
Households
9,039
Avg. household size
2.21

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Mixed

Amherst has 5 public schools — 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 1 school
Reading52%
Math42%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

Amherst Regional HighHighGrades 9–12
Amherst Regional Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 7–8
Crocker Farm ElementaryElementaryGrades -1–6
Fort River ElementaryElementary
Wildwood ElementaryElementary

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime72% below national
Amherst108
Massachusetts327
United States386
↓ 58% lower than 2019
2019–2023
property crime83% below national
Amherst327
Massachusetts1,150
United States1,952
↓ 26% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Amherst Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Amherst.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Hampshire County
HurricaneRelatively Moderate
Ice stormRelatively Moderate
LightningRelatively Moderate
Riverine floodingRelatively Moderate
Strong windRelatively Moderate
Cold waveRelatively Low

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Amherst is in Hampshire County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Amherst was founded in 1703 and sits in Hampshire County. Elevation ~90 m.

Population trend
40K35K35,47220002024
Map of Amherst
Amherst, MA
Where Amherst is
BostonWorcesterSpringfieldCambridgeLowellBrocktonAmherst
Historic places

5 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Strong HouseConkey-Stevens HouseGoodwin Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchAmherst Central Business District (Boundary Increase)Amherst West Cemetery
Notable people from Amherst
Emily DickinsonEbon Moss-BachrachHelen Hunt JacksonJulie McNivenMargaret Morse NiceJ MascisMichael E. MannPaul NitzeMichael HixonStuart Symington
People searches in Amherst
Michael Smith (6)John Smith (5)James Smith (5)David Smith (5)Robert Smith (5)Michael Johnson (5)John Johnson (4)James Johnson (4)Michael Williams (4)William Smith (4)David Johnson (4)Robert Johnson (4)John Williams (4)Michael Brown (4)Michael Jones (4)James Williams (4)David Williams (3)John Brown (3)Robert Williams (3)John Jones (3)William Johnson (3)Mary Smith (3)James Brown (3)James Jones (3)
Nearby cities
Northampton (9 mi)Chicopee (13 mi)Holyoke (13 mi)Springfield (17 mi)Westfield (20 mi)Worcester (36 mi)

Common questions

Amherst — frequently asked

What is the population of Amherst, Massachusetts?
Amherst has a population of about 35,472, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Amherst?
The median home value in Amherst is $454,000, and the median gross rent is $1,570/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Amherst safe? What is the crime rate?
Amherst Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 108 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Amherst face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hampshire County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including hurricane, ice storm, lightning.
How many schools are in Amherst?
Amherst has 5 public schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Amherst?
Public registry data lists 0 registered sex offenders in or near Amherst. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Amherst →