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Amherst Center, MA Area Profile

Amherst Center, Massachusetts Area, MA

Cost of Living

A quick read on everyday affordability around Amherst Center, with the main cost drivers separated for scanning.

Composite Index

95.8

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Cost of living summary
MetricValue
Composite cost index95.8
Grocery index9.1
Housing index8.6
Transportation index7.2

What to Watch

  • For Amherst Center, the useful affordability read is the mix of housing, utilities, and local income rather than one headline number.
  • Housing data is limited, so compare nearby city pages before drawing conclusions.
  • Use Agawam, MA as a same-state comparison point before treating one MA value as typical.
View Massachusetts cost of living report

Utilities

Monthly utility patterns and baseline household costs for power, water, gas, and fuel.

Electric Rate Consumption

Monthly electric index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
222834456274485667826157

Water Consumption

Monthly water index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
664844363026343733554958

Gas Rate (CCF)

Monthly gas index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
283643526147556349455257
Everyday utility costs
MetricValue
Electricity rate$0.302/kWh
Gasoline price$3.28/gal
Water bill avg$48/mo
Gas rate$1.18/CCF
View Massachusetts utilities report

Demographics

Population, age mix, education, and income context for understanding the local community.

Population Age Pyramid

Age mix index
Age bandMaleFemale
0-96864
10-197571
20-348378
35-499290
50-6410097
65-748488
75+7279

Income Distribution

Income bracket index
BracketIndex
Under $35k72
$35k-$49k88
$50k-$74k100
$75k-$99k79
$100k+52

Annual Income Distribution

Median household$63,200
Per capita$33,900
Poverty rate9.8%
Community snapshot
MeasureEstimate
Population507
Median age39.7
Bachelor+22.4%

Schools

School performance and classroom context in a compact local snapshot.

Test Score Trends

Test score trend
201920202021202220232024
424851575964

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Utility Index

7.9

School snapshot
IndicatorValue
Math proficiency53%
Reading proficiency58%
Student-teacher ratio14:1

Helpful Context

  • School comparisons around Amherst Center are most useful when paired with district boundaries and commute patterns.
  • A single score rarely explains the full school picture for Amherst Center; program fit and attendance zones matter too.
  • Nearby city pages can help separate Amherst Center-specific signals from broader Massachusetts patterns.

Local Economy

A simple labor-market snapshot showing local job mix, wages, and workforce size.

Industry Job Types

Industry job mix
IndustryShareIndex
Manufacturing31%74
Agriculture26%64
Healthcare19%52
Retail14%39
Other Services10%31
Local economy snapshot
MetricValue
Unemployment4.7%
Median wage$48,400
Labor force264

Climate

Winter avg: 15 degrees F - Summer avg: 82 degrees F - Snowfall: 43 in

Local Takeaways

  • Compare Amherst Center with Agawam, MA to see whether wages and housing are moving in the same direction.
  • The median household income value is -- when ACS data is available for this place.
  • Use the economy card with housing and taxes to judge whether Amherst Center works for a specific household budget.

Real Estate

Home values, property taxes, and rental context in one housing-focused snapshot.

Median Home Value Trend

Median home value trend
201920202021202220232024
$154k$161k$172k$181k$186k$189k

Property Tax Breakdown

  • County levy: 42%
  • School district: 34%
  • City/other: 24%
Housing and tax snapshot
IndicatorValue
Median home value$189,300
Median property tax paid$2,190
Estimated state sales tax rate7.39%
Rent (2-bed)$975/mo
View Massachusetts property tax report

Climate

A compact view of weather patterns and natural-risk context for the area.

Avg High (Jul)82°F
Avg Low (Jan)8°F
Humidity72%

Climate Snapshot

Reference
Now--
Condition--
Wind--
Today--

Climate context is provided for planning and comparison.

Climate snapshot
MeasureValue
Sunny days196
Annual snowfall43 in
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate

Planning Notes

  • Use the climate panel as a planning screen for Amherst Center; property-specific exposure still needs local review.
  • Utility planning matters because electricity is a high-cost line item for households that use a lot of cooling or appliances.
  • Compare climate and insurance sections together before using Amherst Center as a relocation shortlist.

Insurance

Location-based risk and cost pressure signals that can affect insurance pricing.

Risk IndexModerate
Weather RiskMedium
Cost PressureLow
Insurance summary
IndicatorEstimate
Insurance cost index95
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate
Primary local riskWinter weather

What Affects Rates

  • Housing data is limited, so compare nearby city pages before drawing conclusions in Amherst Center, which can affect replacement-cost assumptions.
  • Local claims history, coverage limits, deductibles, and property condition can outweigh broad MA averages.
  • Compare with Agawam, MA for a broader read on Massachusetts insurance pressure.
View Massachusetts insurance report

Amherst Center Facts

A compact fact sheet for Amherst Center with the strongest available public-data fields.

Amherst Center, MA facts
FactValueSource context
Residential electric rate$0.302/kWhEIA state residential rate
Unemployment4.7%BLS state rate

Helpful Context

  • The utility fact uses the current state residential benchmark because electricity is a high-cost line item for households that use a lot of cooling or appliances.
  • City-specific ACS values are used when the place matches; state-level API values fill statewide measures.
  • Use these facts as a fast MA screen before checking address-level records or provider quotes.

Amherst Center Local Data Brief

This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Amherst Center page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.

Amherst Center, MA local metrics and source context
MetricValueHow to read it
Residential electric rate$0.302/kWhThis is a state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility quote.
Unemployment4.7%This is a state-level BLS labor-market benchmark.

Affordability Summary

Population is not available in the current cache, so Amherst Center should be compared with similar-size places before using broader Massachusetts averages. Median household income is not available in the current cache, so the best affordability read for Amherst Center is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.

Median home value is not available in the current cache, so ownership costs in Amherst Center should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is not available in the current cache, so renters can compare Amherst Center against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.

Housing and Income Context

For Amherst Center, income data should be read alongside housing and utility costs. Housing data is limited, so compare nearby city pages before drawing conclusions.

Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Amherst Center looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Agawam, MA.

Utility Cost Context

The residential electricity benchmark is $0.302/kWh, so Amherst Center households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Amherst Center is a Massachusetts state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.

For Amherst Center, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.

Property Tax Context

Median property tax paid is not available in the current cache, so Amherst Center buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Amherst Center address.

Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.

Insurance and Risk Context

Insurance costs in Amherst Center depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.

Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Amherst Center, especially when comparing with Agawam, MA.

Population and Demographics

Median age is not available in the current cache, so Amherst Center may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is not available in the current cache, so Amherst Center education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.

Unemployment is 4.7%, so Amherst Center wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.

Nearby Massachusetts comparison pages
PlacePopulationHome valueElectric benchmark
Acton, MA----$0.302/kWh
Acushnet, MA----$0.302/kWh
Agawam, MA----$0.302/kWh
Amesbury, MA----$0.302/kWh

Source Notes

  • City-specific Census ACS values are used when a matching place row exists in the cached city metrics file.
  • Electricity and unemployment fields are state-level EIA and BLS benchmarks, so they are labeled as planning context rather than city quotes.
  • The page should be used as a comparison screen before checking provider rates, parcel records, insurance quotes, school boundaries, and address-level details for Amherst Center.

Amherst Center Cost Drill-Down

This dashboard keeps the fast local overview on one page, while the linked category reports go deeper into one decision at a time. For Amherst Center, the strongest local signals in the current cache are population --, median household income --, median home value --, rent --, property tax paid --, and the Massachusetts residential electric benchmark $0.302/kWh.

Amherst Center category drill-down links and metric context
CategoryPrimary valueSecond valueWhy it matters here
Cost of living -- -- Amherst Center affordability is mostly a housing-versus-income read: income data should be read alongside housing and utility costs and housing data is limited, so compare nearby city pages before drawing conclusions.
Utility costs $0.302/kWh -- Amherst Center utility planning should pair the Massachusetts electric benchmark with home size, cooling load, appliance use, and occupancy.
Property taxes -- -- Amherst Center tax planning should compare the tax-paid field with home value, exemptions, assessment rules, and parcel-level records.
Insurance costs -- -- Amherst Center insurance context should be read with housing age, replacement cost, roof condition, claim history, and nearby risk patterns.

Budget Fit

Amherst Center should be read as a local place where income, home value, rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance need to be checked together. Income data should be read alongside housing and utility costs, and housing data is limited, so compare nearby city pages before drawing conclusions.

Monthly Bills

The electricity value on this page is a Massachusetts state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility tariff. For Amherst Center, that benchmark becomes useful when paired with home square footage, cooling load, HVAC age, insulation, and household usage.

Ownership Costs

Median property tax paid is -- and median home value is --. That makes the ownership read stronger than a single price estimate because taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing terms can move the real monthly cost.

Comparison Angle

Use Agawam, MA as a local comparison before using a broad MA average. The nearby table below keeps the comparison tied to home value, taxes, and electric benchmarks instead of alphabetical city links.

Labor and Demographics

Unemployment is 4.7%, median age is --, and bachelor-plus share is --. These fields help frame school demand, commute patterns, wage fit, and service-provider availability around Amherst Center.

Source Discipline

City-specific ACS values are used where the place matches the cache. State-level EIA and BLS fields are labeled as benchmarks, so this page does not pretend those values are address-level or city-utility quotes.

Nearby comparison context for Amherst Center
PlaceDistanceHome valueProperty taxElectric benchmark
Acton, MA Same-state -- -- $0.302/kWh
Acushnet, MA Same-state -- -- $0.302/kWh
Agawam, MA Same-state -- -- $0.302/kWh
Amesbury, MA Same-state -- -- $0.302/kWh
Amherst, MA Same-state -- -- $0.302/kWh

Data Freshness

This Amherst Center, Massachusetts dashboard was generated on 2026-06-18. The city metrics cache was refreshed on 2026-06-16; the nearby-city coordinate cache was refreshed on 2026-06-17.

  • City metrics: Census ACS place fields are city-specific where a matching place record exists.
  • State benchmarks: EIA electricity and BLS unemployment values are state-level context, not city provider tariffs or city labor surveys.
  • Nearby comparisons: Distance uses cached Census Gazetteer place coordinates when available.

Regional Data Explorer

Zoom out from Amherst Center to nearby cities, Massachusetts Area, and Massachusetts benchmarks.

Open Explorer
Nearby Cities Massachusetts Hub Massachusetts Cost Benchmarks

Benchmark Preview

Amherst Center 95.8
Home value
$189k
Property tax
$2,190
Electric rate
$0.154/kWh
County Avg 97.4
Home value
$178k
Property tax
$2,240
Electric rate
$0.158/kWh
MA Avg 101.2
Home value
$286k
Property tax
$3,180
Electric rate
$0.162/kWh

Local Service Cost Guides

Use these contractor-cost guides with the Amherst Center dashboard to compare local housing, utility, tax, climate, and repair-cost context.

Plumber Rates for Amherst Center $85-$165/hr planning range. Leak, drain, fixture, water heater, and emergency plumbing cost planning. Opens the deepest available state guide for Amherst Center, Massachusetts. Open state guide HVAC Installation for Amherst Center $5,500-$14,500 planning range. AC, furnace, heat pump, ductwork, and seasonal system replacement planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Amherst Center, Massachusetts. Open national guide Roof Replacement for Amherst Center $8,000-$24,000 planning range. Roof replacement, leak repair, flashing, ventilation, and storm-exposure planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Amherst Center, Massachusetts. Open national guide Electrician Rates for Amherst Center $90-$175/hr planning range. Panel, outlet, EV charger, lighting, wiring, and inspection cost planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Amherst Center, Massachusetts. Open national guide

Data note: City-profile values are local estimates for comparison and planning context.