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City · 12,906 residents · Lorain County, Ohio

Amherst , Ohio

In Amherst, a typical home is worth $239,200 and typical rent is $906 a month. Compared with all of Lorain County, typical household income is 24% higher, the typical home value is 7% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $239,200

    7% above the county

    11% above Ohio

    • Amherst
    • Lorain
    • Ohio

  • Typical rent

    $906a month

    6% below the county

    12% below Ohio

    • Amherst
    • Lorain
    • Ohio

  • Typical household income

    $90,725a year

    24% above the county

    27% above Ohio

    • Amherst
    • Lorain
    • Ohio

  • Households that own their home

    88%

    14 points above the county

    21 points above Ohio

    • Amherst
    • Lorain
    • Ohio

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$281,991
5.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,993 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Amherst is in Lorain County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lorain County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Amherst apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Lorain, the typical home value is $139,200: 42% less than in Amherst ($239,200).

  2. 88% of households in Amherst own their home, against 74% in Lorain County.

  3. The typical household income in Amherst is $90,725, 24% more than in Lorain County as a whole ($73,347).

  4. Amherst has the 16th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 253 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people (59%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Amherst

What homes there are in Amherst, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Amherst, 9 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lorain County, 8.

Year built

By age, homes in Amherst look like those in Lorain County: the typical year built is 1971.

There is more room for a big family here: 82% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 71% in Lorain County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Amherst are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Lorain County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,496 a month

Lorain County: $1,525 a month

Without a mortgage

$604 a month

Lorain County: $629 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Lorain County: 62%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Amherst is $1,496 a month, near the figure in Lorain County ($1,525).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Amherst rose at about the same pace as in Lorain County: 45% against 48%.

Rent in Amherst moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAmherstLorain CountyOhioUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.5%4.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%1.5%3.4%
People per household 2.642.422.372.53
Drive alone 81%78%75%69%
Carpool 9%8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 9%12%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Amherst are bigger: 2.64 people on average; in Lorain County, 2.42.

The car rules in Amherst: 81% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Amherst?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Amherst, worth $239,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Amherst, which is $90,725 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lorain County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Amherst. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,372 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,058

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$234,867
Total interest
$337,919
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,039 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,117 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $2,117 to $2,722 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,722 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Amherst ($90,725 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,058
Principal & interest$1,591
Property tax$261
Home insurance$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$106

You need at least $8,372 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Amherst and Lorain County

Amherst is in Lorain County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Amherst's own numbers

Typical home value
$239,200
Typical monthly rent
$906
Typical yearly household income
$90,725
Households that own their home
88%
Effective property tax rate
1.31%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lorain County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,274
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lorain County.

Everything about Lorain County

Buying

Buying a home in Amherst

A typical home in Amherst is worth $239,200: 7% above the county and 11% above Ohio. With the typical household income in Amherst ($90,725 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Amherst 2.6 years
  • Lorain 3.0 years
  • Ohio 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lorain County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lorain County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lorain County.

Period County Ohio U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.6% +4.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +92% +93% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Amherst next to Lorain County, Ohio and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Amherst $239,200
  • Lorain $223,200
  • Ohio $214,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Amherst $906
  • Lorain $966
  • Ohio $1,034
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Amherst $90,725
  • Lorain $73,347
  • Ohio $71,389
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Amherst next to Lorain County and Ohio
Measure Amherst Lorain County Ohio U.S.
Typical home value $239,200 $223,200 $214,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $906 $966 $1,034 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $90,725 $73,347 $71,389 $80,734
Households that own their home 88% 74% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,139 $3,055 $2,822 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.31% 1.37% 1.31% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 47% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lorain County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Amherst

For a typical $239,200 home in Amherst, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Amherst's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,058a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,372
    Cash to close
    $15,548
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $106

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,014a month

    Down payment
    $11,960
    Cash to close
    $19,136
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $114

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,657a month

    Down payment
    $47,840
    Cash to close
    $55,016
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,878a month

    Down payment
    $35,880
    Cash to close
    $43,056
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Amherst and for Lorain County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Amherst

1.31%of the home’s value each year

$3,139 a year for the typical owner in Amherst.

  • Amherst 1.31%
  • Lorain 1.37%
  • Ohio 1.31%

What Ohio publishes Homestead exemption for seniors and people with disabilities (Ohio Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Ohio

Flood risk in Lorain County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lorain County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
1,264
Of those, with NFIP insurance
30%
County Ohio U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 1.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 30% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Amherst

Typical rent in Amherst is $906 a month: 6% below the county. In Amherst, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lorain County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,274 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lorain County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $924 $17.77 $36,960
1 bedroom $1,050 $20.19 $42,000
2 bedrooms $1,274 $24.50 $50,960
3 bedrooms $1,628 $31.31 $65,120
4 bedrooms $1,756 $33.77 $70,240

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Amherst

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Amherst is in ZIP code 44001.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,190: $84 less than the fair market rent for Lorain County ($1,274).

  • 44001 $1,190$1,520

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Amherst when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Amherst

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lorain County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Amherst

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Amherst or Lorain County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Amherst the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Ohio

  • Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it. Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Tax Credit

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic). Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Amherst

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Amherst, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • El Centro de Servicios Sociales (OH)

    2800 Pearl Ave, Lorain · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 3 more
    (440) 277-8235

  • El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc

    2800 Pearl Ave, Lorain · 6 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (440) 277-8235

  • Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority

    1600 Kansas Ave, Lorain · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (440) 288-1600

Every agency in Lorain County All counseling agencies in Ohio

Help in Spanish near Amherst

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Amherst

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Lorain County is named for Amherst or Lorain County.

One other authority has an office in Lorain County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lorain County

These cities are also in Lorain County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lorain County Housing in Ohio

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Amherst, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lorain County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Amherst.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Amherst

Short answers with the numbers for Amherst and all of Lorain County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Amherst?

The typical home value in Amherst is $239,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lorain County it is $223,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Amherst?

Typical rent in Amherst is $906 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lorain County is $1,274.

What is the FHA loan limit in Amherst?

Amherst uses the FHA limit for all of Lorain County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Amherst?

The typical homeowner in Amherst pays $3,139 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.31% of the home’s value; in Lorain County, the rate is 1.37%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Amherst?

There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lorain County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).