Real Estate Investing in Amherst, Massachusetts

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

2 ZIP codes • Population: 37,184 • Hampshire County

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Should you buy in Amherst, MA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Amherst, MA?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Citywide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

6.4% 5yr CAGR

1.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

🏦 30-yr Fixed Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS
Avg Investability
Avg Home Value $274,539
Avg Monthly Rent $2,430
ZIP Codes 2

Investing in Amherst Real Estate

With a sizable population across 2 ZIPs, Amherst shows the kind of soft fundamentals that keep most out-of-state capital on the sidelines.

A 3.0 rating and a 5-year CAGR of 0.0% are the kinds of numbers that warrant real local underwriting, not spreadsheet tourism. Amherst is in that category.

Rents in Amherst at $2,430/mo have struggled to keep pace with cost increases, and vacancy has risen in pockets — a dynamic that compresses realized returns well below headline cap rates.

The 0% renter share in Amherst masks uneven tenant quality across ZIPs, and $N/AK median income leaves little cushion against economic shocks.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Best ZIP codes in Springfield, MA

Amherst is part of this metro. Every ZIP in it, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Amherst, MA. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$274,539
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,430
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (MA)

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Springfield, MA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
29%
Days Pending
0/2
30 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

⚖️ Balanced Market — Springfield, MA metro
30
Days to pending
10.5%
Listings with price cuts
0.0%
Sale-to-list ratio
📅 Data as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly

🎓 Colleges & Universities in Amherst

3 Colleges 34,437 Students 254 Off-Campus Renters
B+
Amherst College
4-Year Private · 1,910 students
B+
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
4-Year Public · 31,810 students
📍 ~254 students rent off-campus
C
Hampshire College
4-Year Private · 717 students

Neighborhoods in Amherst

ZIP Codes in Amherst, MA

Screen every ZIP in Amherst

Filter Amherst’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo).

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Frequently Asked Questions About Amherst, MA

What real estate strategy is ideal for Amherst, MA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Amherst, MA. The numbers - $275K homes against $2,430/mo rents - support that play.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Amherst, MA?

Vacancy risk in Amherst, MA is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is house hacking profitable in Amherst, MA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Amherst, MA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Is housing expensive in Amherst, MA?

Expect median prices around $275K in Amherst, MA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been predictable.

What do landlords charge for rent in Amherst, MA?

Investors in Amherst, MA typically see rents near $2,430/mo per month against $275K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

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