Village · Wisconsin
Amherst, Wisconsin
Amherst, village, in Portage County, Wisconsin. Amherst had 1,119 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,117 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,113 (±161). GEOID 5501750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,119
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,117 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,113 ±161
Median household income
$64,922
±$18,143 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$244,300
±$31,381 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$856
±$118 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Amherst and what county is it in?
Amherst is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin. It covers 1.3 square miles of land, 831 residents per square mile in 2020.
Amherst is in the Stevens Point-Plover, WI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Amherst, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,119 people lived in Amherst on July 1, 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 1,117 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,113 (±161).
| Measure | Amherst | Portage County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,113 ±161 | 70,832 | no clear change |
| Households | 567 ±103 | 29,679 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.96 ±0.18 | 2.29 | −0.38 |
| Housing units | 603 ±99 | 31,746 | no clear change |
Amherst's population since 2000
From 964 in 2000 to 1,119 in 2025: up 16.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Amherst as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Amherst?
The median resident of Amherst is 50.3 years old; 16.5% are under 18 and 25.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.0%.
| Measure | Amherst | Portage County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 ±4.7 | 38.0 | +16.3 |
| Under 18 years | 16.5% ±4.3 pts | 18.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.1% ±7.4 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±6.2 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% ±2.5 pts | 4.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.3% ±2.6 pts | 89.0% | −3.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±1.8 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 13.8% ±7.7 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.9% ±3.2 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.0% ±3.1 pts | 94.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.3% ±10.1 pts | 34.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.9% ±5.7 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.6% ±8.6 pts | 85.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Amherst earn?
Half of Amherst's 567 households earn less than $64,922 a year (±$18,143), against $76,070 in Portage County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $62,432 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Amherst | Portage County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,922 ±$18,143 | $76,070 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,545 ±$6,930 | $94,142 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,174 ±$2,574 | $40,191 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.6% ±3.2 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.5% ±7.3 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.8% ±4.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.2% ±3.1 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.4% ±3.6 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Amherst?
Owners occupy 67.4% of Amherst's occupied homes and renters 32.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $244,300 by its owner (±$31,381). The median renter pays $856 a month including utilities, and 18.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Amherst | Portage County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $244,300 ±$31,381 | $243,100 | +$76,556 |
| Median gross rent | $856 ±$118 | $940 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 18.2% ±11.3 pts | 32.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,094 ±$236 | $1,561 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.4% ±10.2 pts | 69.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 32.6% ±10.2 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Housing units | 603 ±99 | 31,746 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% ±8.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.0% ±9.9 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 9.0% ±9.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.3% ±2.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 21.9% ±6.7 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.6% ±2.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Amherst building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Amherst in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Amherst work and get to work?
75.0% of Amherst's workers drive alone and 17.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes.
| Measure | Amherst | Portage County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±8.1 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.0% ±6.1 pts | 74.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.5% ±2.7 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.5% ±5.5 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±4.1 | 19.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Amherst?
No census tract lies mostly in Amherst; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9606Portage County | 5,515 | $78,831 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Amherst) · Census block assignment files
How does Amherst compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Amherst is the 9,835th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 355th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Amherst ranks 752nd of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 355th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 469th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 264th | 914 |
| Median household income | 752nd | 914 |
| Per capita income | 692nd | 911 |
| Median home value | 574th | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 620th | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 405th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 247th | 914 |
| Median age | 225th | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 721st | 914 |
| Work from home | 138th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 629th | 914 |
Amherst's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Amherst with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Amherst?
20 of the 57 figures for Amherst on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Amherst are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Amherst.