Living In & Moving To Amherst, NY | 2020 ULTIMATE Guide With Tips

Among the largest towns in the northeastern part of the country, the town of Amherst, NY is a comfortable community and offers some of the best places to live in the state. Named after Lord Jeffery Amherst who served as commander-in-chief of the British Army during the 1700s, the area has a meaningful history to Canada, Britain, and America.

Covering an area larger than 53 square miles, a good portion of the town is still undeveloped offering a great opportunity for people moving to Amherst. Originally part of Buffalo until the early 1800s, the town of Amherst now mainly encompasses the small village of Williamsville.

People living in Amherst enjoy a wide range of benefits from safe neighborhoods to fun local activities. This comprehensive guide will give you all the details you’ll need to decide whether it’s a good place for you.

1. People of Amherst

At nearly half the size of Buffalo, the Amherst population of 124,600 makes it the most populated town in upstate New York. These numbers have steadily been on the rise over the past few decades as a good amount of people have been moving to Amherst.

The area’s median age is about 40 years old, though there is also a large number of college students in the area attending the local University of Buffalo campus. And while the area doesn’t have a mayor, locals elected Brian J. Kulpa to be the town supervisor starting in 2018.

2. “Best Place to Live in New York”

In the past year, Amherst was designated by Money magazine as the best place to live in New York. The list covered the best city within each of the 50 states and Amherst took home the trophy. Between the area’s affordability, local history, low crime rate, and quick access to Buffalo, the magazine seemed to make living in Amherst sound like a no-brainer.

The article also mentions the town’s good housing market and its strong education system, which includes a handful of top-rated secondary and graduate schools.

3. Things to Do & Restaurants in Amherst

Looking for fun things to do in Amherst once you’ve moved there? Among the most popular places around town is the Amherst State Park, which features a variety of gardens, fishing areas, hiking trails, and a veterans memorial area. While those looking to let out their inner child, Lasertron offer both kids and adults access to laser tag, mini-golf, an arcade, adult-sized big wheel racing, and much more.

Amherst State Park

 

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Amherst State Park, 390 Mill St, Buffalo, NY 14221

Lasertron

 

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Lasertron, 5101 N Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY 14226

If you want to know about the best restaurant in Amherst, make sure you check out Family Tree. This classy Greek & American eatery uses local produce and creates entrees like gyros, souvlaki, and many others. Or if you’re in the move for some Italian cuisine, head over to Leonardi’s Pizzeria, for delicious pizza, subs, and wings.

Family Tree

 

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Family Tree, 4346 Bailey Ave, Amherst, NY 14226

Leonardi’s Pizzeria

 

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Leonardi’s Pizzeria, 614 Grover Cleveland Hwy, Amherst, NY 14226

4. Amherst Cost of Living

The cost of living in Amherst is fairly close to national averages and about 25% less than New York state’s average numbers. With below median prices on things like groceries, health insurance, and local utilities, the higher expenses are usually found in the Amherst housing market.

But if you’re looking for Amherst, NY homes for sale, the cost is generally affordable compared to other suburbs nearby. The average price of a home in Amherst is $233,500, a decrease of about 2% over the past year. If you are planning on leasing your living space, the average price of rent in Amherst has been around $1,371 over the past 12 months, which is up about 5%.

Other cost of living factors in Amherst include:

  • Inexpensive restaurant: $10.00
  • Combo at fast food restaurant: $8.00
  • Regular coffee: $3.50
  • Bottle of Coke/Pepsi (12oz): $1.50
  • Bottle of Water (12oz): $1.50

5. Amherst Offers Some of the Safest Neighborhoods in NY

Is Amherst, NY safe? Ranked among the top 15 safest cities in America, Amherst neighborhoods offer great places to live all over town. The area has stayed among these top spots since the mid-1990s. Communities like Eggertsville, Snyder, University are great options for people thinking about living here.

Amherst NY neighboorhoods

Part of Erie County, Amherst covers the zip codes 14051, 14068, 14221, 14225, 14226, 14228, and 14261. A local Amherst phone number will have an area code of 716.

Amherst, NY also offers highly convenient shopping including Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, and locations at the Boulevard Mall.

6. Small, Reliable School System in Amherst

Amherst schools are split between the Amherst Central School District and the Sweet Home Central School District, though there aren’t any elementary locations within the town borders. Primary education options in the city include Amherst Middle School, Amherst Central High, and Sweet Home Senior High.

College students living in Amherst have multiple options for secondary education. The University at Buffalo has an Amherst campus, while students can also attend the Bryant & Stratton College or Daemen College to get their degree.

7. Jobs in Amherst, NY

With such easy access from Amherst, NY to Buffalo less than 12 miles away, many people living here commute to work in the city from this local suburb. Amherst jobs include a variety of opportunities with employers like M&T Bank, the LORD Corporation, Kaleida Health hospitals, Rich Products, and more.

You’ll also find a variety of local shops, retail stores, and business offices offering additional employment options.

If you’re looking to take a trip from Amherst to NYC, you can expect a trek of slightly over 6 hours.

8. Amherst Weather Brings Cold Winters & Warm Summers

The weather in Amherst can range from freezing to warm depending on the time of year. You’ll want to prepare yourself for all four seasons with plenty of coats and snow boots for winter, as well as t-shirts and shorts for summer.

Amherst NY winter snow

Amherst weather has temperatures which vary between warm, partly cloudy summers around 62°F to 80°F and freezing, windy winters around 18°F to 31°F. The area sees around 84 inches of snow annually, which is three times the national average.

Tips for Moving to Amherst

  • Great suburb with an easy commute to the bigger city of Buffalo.
  • Rated as the Best Place to Live in New York by Money
  • Plenty of fun local activities and great places to eat around town.
  • Strong secondary education system for college students seeking their degree.
  • Prepare for all types of weather ranging from sunny, warm summer to freezing, snowy winters.

The city of Amherst has so much to offer the people living there. This comfortable Buffalo suburb is continuously growing and building a strong local economy. Anyone interested in moving to Amherst will be joining a great community with plenty of opportunities.

Need a reliable Amherst moving company to assist with your upcoming relocation? Whether you’re moving to or from the area, Wayfinder Moving offers top-rated services to get you where you’re going. Give us a call today at 716-821-1234 or fill out the form on this page to get a free moving estimate!

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