Massachusetts Living Index
Amherst
Pioneer Valley · pop. 39,263
UMass plus four colleges, the Norwottuck Rail Trail, and Pioneer Valley farmland.
College TownOutdoors & Trails
Livability Index
74
/ 100
Ranks #9 of 194 MA towns
The numbers
Median home
$545k
8.4× household income
Household income
$65k
ACS median
Commute to Boston
110 min
peak driving
Population
39,263
5-yr trend 66/100
How Amherst scores
Schools
82
Safety
84
Walkability
52
Transit
36
Biking
55
Dining
74
Nightlife
68
Arts & Culture
80
Green Space
86
Diversity
78
Climate
70
The honest read
Best for
Academics, remote workers, and families who don't need Boston.
The tradeoff
Too far west for Boston commuters.
Compare on your terms
These scores reflect a neutral weighting. Your priorities are not neutral. Open the full atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and see where Amherst lands for you.
Nearby towns
Bordering and adjacent Massachusetts towns near Amherst.
Popular comparisons
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