Amherst, MA: Population, ZIP Codes & Nearby Cities

Looking for facts about Amherst? It is a small incorporated city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, with an estimated 39,814 people according to our dataset. It lies at 42.364°N, 72.507°W in Eastern time. The sections below cover its size, ZIP codes, neighbors and distances.

What are the key facts about Amherst, MA?

What is the population of Amherst, MA?

Amherst has an estimated population of 39,814. That makes it the 36th largest of the 139 places we list in Massachusetts, and the largest place in its county. The typical place in Massachusetts has about 5,199 residents, so Amherst is roughly 7.7 times the size of a typical neighbor in the state.

Estimates for places of this size carry wider margins of error than those for big cities, so treat the figure as a guide to scale. Our guide to understanding city population numbers explains why sources disagree.

Places in Massachusetts with a similar population include Fitchburg (40,638), Woburn (40,228), Holyoke (40,117), Chelsea (39,690), Marlborough (39,597). Comparing these pages is a quick way to see how Amherst differs from communities of the same scale.

How dense is Amherst?

Amherst has about 1,440 people per square mile (556 per square kilometer), which we classify as suburban. Within Massachusetts, it is denser than about 52% of the listed places. Land at this level is usually a mix of single-family neighborhoods, shopping corridors and parks, where driving is common but destinations are close. Read how to interpret population density to see how we draw these lines.

What ZIP codes does Amherst use?

Amherst uses 4 ZIP codes: 01002, 01003, 01004, 01059. Several codes in one place usually reflect separate delivery areas, post offices or large buildings with their own code. Codes beginning with 0 are assigned to the Northeast (New England, New Jersey and Puerto Rico). Learn more in our guide to how ZIP codes work or check any code with the ZIP code lookup.

What time zone is Amherst in?

Amherst is in the Eastern time zone, which is UTC−5 from Coordinated Universal Time in standard time (IANA zone America/New_York). The area observes daylight saving time, so clocks move forward in March and back in November. The nearest listed place in a different time zone is La Porte, IN, about 731 miles away, which gives a sense of how far the nearest zone boundary may be. Current local time: see the Eastern time hub. For the rules behind these zones, read US time zones explained.

Where is Amherst located in Massachusetts?

Amherst lies in the northwestern part of Massachusetts, at 42.364° north latitude and 72.507° west longitude. The state capital, Boston, is about 73 miles to the east. The closest listed place in another state is Sherwood Manor, CT, roughly 25 miles to the south, which shows how near Amherst is to a state line. For big-city services, the nearest place with more than 100,000 people is Springfield, MA, 17 miles to the south.

Which cities are near Amherst, MA?

The closest listed place to Amherst is Amherst Center, MA, 1.0 miles to the northwest. Of the eight nearest places below, 3 are in the same county. Distances are straight-line (great-circle) miles measured between place centers; see how distance is calculated.

Which county is Amherst in?

Amherst is in Hampshire County, which has the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 25015. The county contains 4 places in our data, 4 of which have their own page here. Other places in the county include Northampton (28,451), Amherst Center (20,409), Easthampton (15,829). Codes like this one help separate places that share a name; see the guide to counties and FIPS codes.

How far is Amherst from major US cities?

Among six major hubs, Amherst is closest to New York, NY at about 137 miles and farthest from Los Angeles, CA at about 2,523 miles in a straight line. Road distances are usually 10 to 30 percent longer. Try the distance calculator for any other pair.

Are there other places called Amherst?

Yes. Our data lists 6 other places named Amherst: Amherst, OH (12,219), Amherst, VA (2,180), Amherst, WI (1,045), Amherst, TX (660), Amherst, NE (253), Amherst, CO (178). When you search for Amherst, add the state or county so you land on the right one. This page covers the Amherst in Hampshire County, Massachusetts.

Planning a move to Amherst?

If you are weighing Amherst, start with the practical numbers: how far it is from where you live, whether it changes your time zone, and how its size and density compare with your current city. Use the distance calculator to measure the trip from where you live. The radius search tool lists every place within any distance of it. Our checklist for comparing cities explains what to check next.

Where to go next

Population and density come from a compiled dataset and are estimates. They may differ from official Census Bureau counts. Verify important figures at census.gov.