Home project costs in Amherst, MA
Every project we cover, priced for the Amherst Town-Northampton metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Amherst sits 76th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 100.2 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 97.0 (89th). The metro has about 65,670 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 36 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 0 below, and 2 are level with it. Shower pan (+19%), paver patio (+18%) and roof replacement (+17%) sit highest, and attic insulation (level), front door (level) and kitchen remodel (+1%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Westfield Barnes Muni Ap, 13 miles away) shows a January average low of 16°F, a July average high of 85°F and 45 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through September; for exterior installation, they are March through November.
What local trades earn in Amherst
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $22.14 | $27.96 | $36.52 | $22.66 | 1.23 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $28.62 | $32.13 | $41.93 | $29.12 | 1.10 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $27.45 | $32.13 | $38.91 | $28.78 | 1.12 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $27.70 | $37.77 | $45.15 | $30.67 | 1.23 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $27.41 | n/a |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $28.16 | $37.01 | $40.75 | $30.38 | 1.22 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in Amherst
The 7 jobs here average +8% versus the US in Amherst, from +5% (concrete slab) to +18% (paver patio).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Amherst | 400 sq ft | $2,600 – $5,400 | +5% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Amherst | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,100 | +10% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Amherst | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,800 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Amherst | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
| Paver patio cost in Amherst | 300 sq ft | $3,550 – $6,450 | +18% |
| Concrete patio cost in Amherst | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,300 | +7% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Amherst | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,450 | +6% |
Decks & outdoor in Amherst
The 2 jobs here average +5% versus the US in Amherst, from +4% (wood deck) to +7% (composite deck).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Amherst | 300 sq ft | $7,850 – $15,800 | +4% |
| Composite deck cost in Amherst | 300 sq ft | $12,800 – $25,700 | +7% |
Building & additions in Amherst
Across these 2 projects, Amherst averages +8% against national midpoints. Home addition is highest at +10% and detached garage lowest at +7%.
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Amherst | 576 sq ft | $30,900 – $62,000 | +7% |
| Home addition cost in Amherst | 300 sq ft | $41,700 – $84,300 | +10% |
Doors & windows in Amherst
The 5 jobs here average +5% versus the US in Amherst, from level (front door) to +13% (patio door).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Amherst | 1 door | $720 – $3,750 | +1% |
| Storm door cost in Amherst | 1 door | $360 – $960 | +2% |
| Front door cost in Amherst | 1 door | $520 – $2,500 | level |
| Window replacement cost in Amherst | 10 windows | $5,100 – $16,300 | +10% |
| Patio door cost in Amherst | 1 door | $650 – $6,800 | +13% |
Fencing in Amherst
The 4 jobs here average +5% versus the US in Amherst, from +1% (vinyl fence) to +10% (chain-link fence).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Amherst | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $8,000 | +5% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Amherst | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,350 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Amherst | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,850 | +10% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Amherst | 150 linear ft | $4,000 – $11,800 | +4% |
Roofing & exterior in Amherst
The 5 jobs here average +9% versus the US in Amherst, from level (attic insulation) to +17% (roof replacement).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Amherst | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,400 – $14,500 | +17% |
| Metal roof cost in Amherst | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,400 – $36,600 | +15% |
| Gutters cost in Amherst | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,500 | +8% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Amherst | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,900 – $26,800 | +6% |
| Attic insulation cost in Amherst | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
Kitchen & bath in Amherst
Across these 5 projects, Amherst averages +10% against national midpoints. Shower pan is highest at +19% and kitchen remodel lowest at +1%.
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Amherst | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,800 | +5% |
| Shower pan cost in Amherst | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,250 | +19% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Amherst | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $31,900 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Amherst | 45 sq ft | $5,250 – $26,000 | +12% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Amherst | 30 sq ft | $360 – $1,750 | +16% |
Landscaping & drainage in Amherst
Across these 5 projects, Amherst averages +11% against national midpoints. Retaining wall is highest at +15% and sod installation lowest at +9%.
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Amherst | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Retaining wall cost in Amherst | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,450 – $15,100 | +15% |
| Sod installation cost in Amherst | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Amherst | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool cost in Amherst | 450 sq ft | $40,500 – $126,000 | +12% |
Flooring & interior in Amherst
The 3 jobs here average +13% versus the US in Amherst, from +6% (hardwood flooring) to +16% (laminate flooring).
| Project | Size | Amherst range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Amherst | 500 sq ft | $5,900 – $13,200 | +6% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Amherst | 500 sq ft | $2,400 – $8,050 | +16% |
| Tile flooring cost in Amherst | 200 sq ft | $3,250 – $11,100 | +15% |
Amherst against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Amherst comes out +9% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 2 price higher and 4 lower. Manchester is the lowest at roughly level (60 miles) and Worcester the highest at +11% (35 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | 100.2 | 97.0 | +9% | |
| Springfield, MA | 15 miles | 96.1 | 97.0 | +11% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 30 miles | 95.1 | 97.0 | +4% |
| Worcester, MA | 35 miles | 102.5 | 97.0 | +11% |
| Hartford, CT | 45 miles | 102.7 | 97.3 | +5% |
| Waterbury, CT | 60 miles | 99.8 | 97.3 | +4% |
| Manchester, NH | 60 miles | 105.7 | 97.7 | level |