Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Amherst Town, Massachusetts
A $454,000 home here costs
$3,937per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $168,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,475. The real number is $1,461 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Hampshire County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Amherst Town against Hampshire County and Massachusetts
| Measure | Amherst Town | Hampshire County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $454,000 | $363,400 |
| Median property tax | $8,688 | $5,326 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.914% | 1.466% |
| Median gross rent | $1,570 | $1,332 |
| Population | 35,472 | 156,595 |
The weather behind that power bill
Amherst Town sits in Hampshire County, which averages a high of 84.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.5°F in its coldest, with 45.16" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 677 cooling and 6,330 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Hampshire County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Hampshire County
Full Hampshire County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Amherst Town averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Amherst Town every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Amherst Town I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Amherst Town?
A $454,000 home in Amherst Town, Massachusetts costs approximately $3,937 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,475 principal and interest, $724 property tax, $117 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $378 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Amherst Town?
Amherst Town has an effective property tax rate of 1.914%, based on a median home value of $454,000 and median real estate taxes of $8,688. That is higher than the Hampshire County average of 1.466%.
What is the average home price in Amherst Town?
The median owner-occupied home value in Amherst Town, Massachusetts is $454,000, against $363,400 across Hampshire County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Amherst Town?
Median gross rent in Amherst Town is $1,570 a month, against $3,937 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Amherst Town?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Amherst Town, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $168,500 a year. That covers the full $3,937 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Amherst Town, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Massachusetts.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.