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City Housing Verdict

Amherst, OH

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Amherst, OH — everyday costs run about 11% below the national average (Cost Index: 89). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $269,999, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $93,043 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Amherst looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 11% rent burden, 2.9x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 89. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Amherst.

Monthly Housing
$832/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
11%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,422/mo
After housing and debt · $2,141/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 17%
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Cost Index
89
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$269,999
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $222,700
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$832/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$93,043
National: $78,538
Population
12,796
Purchasing Power
133
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
89 / 100
11% below average
Rent Index
62 / 100
38% below average
Goods & Groceries
94 / 100
6% cheaper than average
Utilities
96 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
89
Affordable · 11% below average

Amherst Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $269,999 and Ohio's property tax rate of 1.53%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$93,043
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
11%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
2.9x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Amherst looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Amherst, OH

Est. Annual Property Tax
$4,131
Monthly Impact
$344
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.53%
National avg: ~1.00%

Ohio Place Tax Context

Tax TypeOhioNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.53%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate3.5%~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.24%~5.0%

Compare Amherst to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Amherst, OH
89
62
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Amherst, OH: 89
Rent Prices
62

FAQ: Living in Amherst

Is Amherst, OH an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Amherst run about 11% below the US average (Cost Index: 89). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $269,999, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $832, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Amherst fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $832, while local median household income is $93,043. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 11% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Amherst, OH?+

Ohio has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 3.5%. The effective property tax rate is 1.53%. On a home worth $269,999, that translates to roughly $4,131 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.24% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Amherst, OH?+

The typical monthly rent in Amherst is around $832. That's roughly 38% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $269,999, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Amherst, OH?+

The median home in Amherst is valued at $269,999. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,365/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 88% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Amherst?+

Grocery prices in Amherst are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 96). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Amherst, OH like to live in?+

Amherst is a small town with a population of about 12,796. The median age of residents is 43.4, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 4.54%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Ohio

If Amherst feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Ohio

Use these city pages when you want to compare Amherst against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly