Amherst Center, MA

Census Place

Add Comparison

2019 Population

20,409

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

2019 Median Age

20.4

0.488% 1-year decrease

2019 Poverty Rate

31.3%

3.81% 1-year decrease

2019 Median Household Income

$45,098

4.11% 1-year growth

2019 Median Property Value

$350,600

1.33% 1-year growth

2019 Employed Population

8,312

4.58% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Amherst Center, MA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

91.3% of the residents in Amherst Center, MA are U.S. citizens.

In 2019, the median property value in Amherst Center, MA was $350,600, and the homeownership rate was 36.7%.

Most people in Amherst Center, MA walked to work, and the average commute time was 15.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Amherst Center, MA was 2 cars per household.

United States Massachusetts Hampshire County, MA Springfield, MA Hampshire County (South)--Northampton PUMA, MA

Population & Diversity

Amherst Center, MA is home to a population of 20.4k people, from which 91.3% are citizens. As of 2019, 14.6% of Amherst Center, MA residents were born outside of the country (2.99k people).

In 2019, there were 5.17 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (14.5k people) in Amherst Center, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.81k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 1.11k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

91.3%

2019 Citizenship

92%

2018 Citizenship

As of 2019, 91.3% of Amherst Center, MA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2018, the percentage of US citizens in Amherst Center, MA was 92%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Amherst Center, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Amherst Center, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
14.5k ± 750
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
2.81k ± 268
White (Hispanic)
1.11k ± 293

7.16%

Hispanic Population

1.46k people

7.16% of the people in Amherst Center, MA are hispanic (1.46k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Amherst Center, MA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

Brazil
108,593 ± 8,028 people
Dominican Republic
106,391 ± 7,947 people
China
103,416 ± 7,837 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was Brazil, the natal country of 108,593 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 106,391 and China with 103,416.

Foreign-Born Population

14.6%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

2.99k people

13.8%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

2.79k people

As of 2019, 14.6% of Amherst Center, MA residents (2.99k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2018, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Amherst Center, MA was 13.8%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Amherst Center, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
85 ± 66
World War II
77 ± 62
Gulf War (2001-)
51 ± 66

Amherst Center, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.1 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Amherst Center, MA.

Health

96.8% of the population of Amherst Center, MA has health coverage, with 62.3% on employee plans, 11% on Medicaid, 3.41% on Medicare, 19.7% on non-group plans, and 0.335% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Massachusetts see 990 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (990 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 915 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 130 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2019, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21% under 18 years, 65.1% between 18 and 34 years, 8.29% between 35 and 64 years, and 5.57% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

3.25%

Uninsured

62.3%

Employer Coverage

11%

Medicaid

3.41%

Medicare

19.7%

Non-Group

0.335%

Military or VA

Between 2018 and 2019, the percent of uninsured citizens in Amherst Center, MA grew by 8.96% from 2.98% to 3.25%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Amherst Center, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Economy

The economy of Amherst Center, MA employs 8.31k people. In 2019, the largest industries in Amherst Center, MA were Educational Services (3,608 people), Accommodation & Food Services (1,105 people), and Retail Trade (940 people), and the highest paying industries were Wholesale Trade ($95,125), Construction ($37,667), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($35,764).

Employment

Occupations

8.31k

2019 Value

± 697

−4.58%

1 Year decline

± 12.1%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Amherst Center, MA declined at a rate of −4.58%, from 8.71k employees to 8.31k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Amherst Center, MA, are Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,236 people), Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (1,135 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,026 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Amherst Center, MA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

8.31k

2019 Value

± 697

−4.58%

1 Year decline

± 12.1%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Amherst Center, MA declined at a rate of −4.58%, from 8.71k employees to 8.31k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Amherst Center, MA, are Educational Services (3,608 people), Accommodation & Food Services (1,105 people), and Retail Trade (940 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Amherst Center, MA, though some of these residents may live in Amherst Center, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$8,983

Median earning men ± $1,751

$7,738

Median earning women ± $1,181

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2019 are Wholesale Trade ($95,125), Construction ($37,667), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($16,923).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2019 are Manufacturing ($93,036), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($27,276), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($13,814).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Y-Axis

2.61%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.67M people employed in Massachusetts. This represents a 2.61% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 17.5%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Massachusetts.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Amherst Center, MA. Showing the available data for Massachusetts.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (61.2%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (36%)
Republican Party
Other (1.48%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Kamala Harris with 61.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (36%), followed by Other (1.48%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to the seat following the resignation of John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/massachusetts-special-senate-election.html |title=Democrat Wins Special Election for Kerry's Senate Seat |work=The New York Times |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2020 |last1=Seelye |first1=Katharine Q. }}

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Amherst Center, MA was $350,600 in 2019, which is 1.05 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2018 and 2019 the median property value increased from $346,000 to $350,600, a 1.33% increase. The homeownership rate in Amherst Center, MA is 36.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Amherst Center, MA have an average commute time of 15.4 minutes, and they walked to work. Car ownership in Amherst Center, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$350,600

Median Property Value 2019

±$25,077

$1,128

Median Property Taxes

±$187

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Amherst Center, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Amherst Center, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

36.7%

Homeownership

2019

61.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2019

In 2019, 36.7% of the housing units in Amherst Center, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 37.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Amherst Center, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$45,098

Median Household Income

± $11,029

3.08k

Number of Households

± 437

In 2019, the median household income of the 3.08k households in Amherst Center, MA grew to $45,098 from the previous year's value of $43,319.

The following chart displays the households in Amherst Center, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Amherst Center, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.477

2024 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.478

2023 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2024, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.477 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.306% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2019

Walked (39.9%)
Drove Alone (30.2%)
Worked At Home (10.9%)

In 2019, 39.9% of workers in Amherst Center, MA walked to work, followed by those who drove alone to work (30.2%) and those who worked at home (10.9%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

15.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Amherst Center, MA have a shorter commute time (15.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.63% of the workforce in Amherst Center, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Amherst Center, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Amherst Center, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Amherst Center, MA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

31.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Amherst Center, MA (2.24k out of 7.17k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 75+.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Amherst Center, MA is White, followed by Asian and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.