What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).

Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).

Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst Town	Leverett
People
Population	38,182Highest	1,608Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.8% MA: +7.4%
Median age	21.4±0.2Lowest 47% below MA	56±6.4Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	7.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.1%±1Lowest MA: 17.9%	34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	59.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,968±$7kLowest 36% below MA	$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$484,900±$21kHighest 14% below MA	$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA
	Amherst Town and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,671±$93Highest 5% below MA	$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,787Highest 47% above MA	$6,779Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Leverett and Amherst Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.7%Highest MA: 10%	10%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	44.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 38% below MA	27 minHighest 9% below MA
Work from home	21%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Leverett and Amherst Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Amherst · Amherst-Pelham	Leverett
High school in town	Amherst Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.