Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area's all-transactions index changed +2.4% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +3.2% for Massachusetts and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 260th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +2.4%
- 5-year change
- +45.6%
- Since Q1 1995
- +274%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 260th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA vs Massachusetts and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Amherst Town-Northampton, MA: 374.1
- Massachusetts: 471.6
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | MA | U.S. | Gap vs MA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.4% | +3.2% | +3.0% | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
| 3 years | +14.4% | +16.1% | +12.9% | −1.6 pts | +1.6 pts |
| 5 years | +45.6% | +41.9% | +41.3% | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
| 10 years | +84.1% | +91.9% | +93.3% | −7.8 pts | −9.2 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +274% | +372% | +292% | −97.4 pts | −17.4 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 010 · Chicopee, MA area | MA | +3.4% | +43.3% | +254% | 34% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 10.0% to its low in Q2 2012, and regained its peak in Q4 2017, about 9.8 years after the top. Today it sits +74.7% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2008 | Q2 2012 | -10.0% | Q4 2017 (9.8 yrs) | +74.7% |
| MA | Q1 2006 | Q2 2012 | -17.6% | Q2 2017 (11.2 yrs) | +84.2% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area's index has changed +69.0% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | MA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -1.4% | -0.7% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +4.2% | +5.7% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +17.4% | +14.4% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +32.4% | +38.0% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +69.0% | +113% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +261% | $1,084,464 |
| Q2 2000 | +211% | $934,027 |
| Q2 2005 | +85.0% | $554,884 |
| Q2 2010 | +89.5% | $568,515 |
| Q2 2015 | +86.4% | $559,141 |
| Q2 2020 | +59.6% | $478,909 |
| Q2 2021 | +45.6% | $436,875 |
| Q2 2023 | +14.4% | $343,269 |
| Q2 2025 | +2.4% | $307,176 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro area shows changes of +2.4% over one year, +45.6% over five years, and +84.1% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +274% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −0.6 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +4.3 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.