The Town FilesAmherst, Wisconsin
Town in Portage County · population 1,402 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,500
- Household income
- $94,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.5
Amherst is a town of 1,402 people in Portage County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $314,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 84% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Amherst ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amherst is worth $314,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $94,205, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,639 a month. 95.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amherst | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,639 | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,205 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Amherst
| People | Amherst | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Amherst
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Portage County since 1996
Portage County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Portage County
Portage County had 33,088 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,889 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Amherst itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Amherst
1 public school with 30 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sands Community High School (charter) | 9-12 | 30 | 15.0 |
Towns near Amherst
- Amherst, WI1.2 mi · 1,117 people · home $244,300
- Lanark, WI5.6 mi · 1,535 people · home $258,600
- Scandinavia, WI6.2 mi · 1,049 people · home $274,400
- New Hope, WI6.2 mi · 711 people · home $325,800
- Stockton, WI6.3 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
- Farmington, WI8.5 mi · 3,712 people · home $251,500
- Iola, WI8.7 mi · 938 people · home $274,500
- Iola, WI9.4 mi · 1,249 people · home $164,200
Amherst questions
Is Amherst, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amherst scores better for retirees than 71% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 47%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Amherst?
The median owner-occupied home in Amherst is valued at $314,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,205, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,639 a month.
What is the weather like in Amherst?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.0 inches of snow.
Does Amherst get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amherst since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)