Cost of living in Amherst-Northampton, MA
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area · Data updated October 2026
Amherst-Northampton cost of living compared to the national average
What the numbers say
- Overall prices in Amherst-Northampton, MA are within 1% of the national average (index 100.2, where the US is 100; BEA 2024).
- Utilities stand out in Amherst-Northampton: household electricity, gas, water and sewer prices are 55.7% above the US average.
- Compared with the rest of the country, Amherst-Northampton has become more expensive since 2019: the index went from 98.7 to 100.2, and its rank from 90th to 84th most expensive. Housing in Amherst-Northampton moved most, from 88.2 to 97.5.
- No single category stands out in Amherst-Northampton: housing is 2.5% below average, goods 3.0% below average and other services 1.2% above average.
- The metro areas with the most similar mix of costs are Barnstable, MA, Providence, RI and Worcester, MA.
Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.
Compare Amherst-Northampton, MA with another city
Where the money goes
BEA splits prices into four parts. Housing covers rents for renters and the rental value of owned homes; goods include food, clothing, cars and fuel; other services include health care, eating out, transport and recreation.
In Amherst-Northampton, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 55.7% above
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| All items | 100.2 |
| Goods | 97.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 97.5 |
| Utilities | 155.7 |
| Other services | 101.2 |
How prices have changed since 2008
These are price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation. A line going up means Amherst-Northampton got more expensive compared with the rest of the US.
Amherst-Northampton has stayed close to the US average since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 103.1 |
| 2016 | 99.7 |
| 2017 | 102.3 |
| 2018 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 98.7 |
| 2020 | 101.8 |
| 2021 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 102.8 |
| 2024 | 100.2 |
Goods: 99.8 in 2008, 97.0 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 98.8 |
| 2016 | 98.3 |
| 2017 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 96.9 |
| 2022 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 97.0 |
Housing (rents): 88.5 in 2008, 97.5 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.5 |
| 2009 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 80.6 |
| 2011 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 96.0 |
| 2014 | 102.4 |
| 2015 | 116.0 |
| 2016 | 90.0 |
| 2017 | 101.8 |
| 2018 | 101.0 |
| 2019 | 88.2 |
| 2020 | 103.0 |
| 2021 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 83.8 |
| 2023 | 107.0 |
| 2024 | 97.5 |
Utilities: 140.6 in 2008, 155.7 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 140.6 |
| 2009 | 138.9 |
| 2010 | 121.0 |
| 2011 | 120.7 |
| 2012 | 118.0 |
| 2013 | 121.9 |
| 2014 | 126.3 |
| 2015 | 132.4 |
| 2016 | 131.0 |
| 2017 | 138.0 |
| 2018 | 146.4 |
| 2019 | 145.0 |
| 2020 | 156.5 |
| 2021 | 150.5 |
| 2022 | 142.9 |
| 2023 | 156.9 |
| 2024 | 155.7 |
Other services: 101.3 in 2008, 101.2 in 2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 101.9 |
| 2014 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 102.1 |
| 2017 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 99.5 |
| 2019 | 100.9 |
| 2020 | 101.6 |
| 2021 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 105.6 |
| 2023 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 101.2 |
Rent and home prices
Rent and home-value trends are not available for Amherst-Northampton, MA. New metro in the 2023 OMB delineation (Hampshire County, previously part of Springfield, MA). Zillow's Springfield, MA area still includes it, so it is not comparable. BEA's housing index above still covers rents here.
Gas prices
Regular gasoline averaged $4.20 a gallon in Massachusetts (statewide average) in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.08 less than the US average of $4.28. official
Gas prices in Massachusetts · Work out your commute's gas cost
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.
Childcare
Not included yet. The free official source (the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices) is published by county, with its latest year 2022 and gaps in some states. We will add it once we can show it per metro without guessing.
Where Amherst-Northampton ranks
Among 387 metro areas, 2024. 1st is the most expensive.
| Category | Index (US = 100) | Rank | Cheaper than |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.2 | 84th of 387 | 22% of metros |
| Goods | 97.0 | 105th of 387 | 27% of metros |
| Housing (rents) | 97.5 | 105th of 387 | 27% of metros |
| Utilities | 155.7 | 19th of 387 | 5% of metros |
| Other services | 101.2 | 30th of 387 | 8% of metros |
Metro areas with a similar cost mix
Closest in all four categories at once, not just in the overall number.
| Metro area | Overall | Housing | Typical rent | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst-Northampton, MA (this page) | 100.2 | 97.5 | n/a | |
| Barnstable, MA | 98.4 | 90.0 | $2,578 | Compare |
| Providence, RI | 101.8 | 103.9 | $2,166 | Compare |
| Worcester, MA | 102.5 | 113.0 | $2,105 | Compare |
| Norwich, CT | 100.4 | 93.7 | $2,099 | Compare |
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | 89.1 | n/a | Compare |
| Springfield, MA | 96.1 | 75.8 | $1,963 | Compare |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
- Boston, MA 108.3
- Worcester, MA 102.5
- Providence, RI 101.8
- Barnstable, MA 98.4
- Springfield, MA 96.1
- Pittsfield, MA 95.1
Sources and limits
- Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
- These are averages for the whole metro area and an average household's spending. Your costs depend on neighborhood, household size and habits. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.