Academia is not in short supply in Amherst. The town, also nicknamed “Knowledge Corridor,” houses three out of five institutions of the Five College Consortium, including Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. So they really know their stuff here!
Much like the campuses, the city’s downtown area is vibrant and encompassed by a cinema, coffeehouses, diverse restaurants, and bookstores. Amherst Town Common is a large green space along North Pleasant Street, an ideal location for a pick-up Frisbee game or relaxing with a favorite novel under an oak tree. This college town has it all including Emily Dickinson’s childhood home, which is now a museum dedicated to the famous poet and her family.
Being immersed in culture is what makes Amherst a great city. Many conservations are located here, so the area is naturally beautiful year-round. In addition to Hampshire Mall and Interstate 91, locals want you to know how to say the city’s name correctly. Simply drop the “h” in Amherst and you have it. So it will be more like “Am-erst” when you say it out loud – got it?
As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Amherst, MA is $1,992 for a studio, $1,865 for one bedroom, $2,150 for two bedrooms, and $3,020 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Amherst has increased by 3.9% in the past year.
Open to exploring your options? Discover other great cities in Massachusetts with our detailed guide.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Amherst, MA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Bikeable
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
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Grades PK-5
Amherst Regional Middle School
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
