Median rent is 5% lower in Amherst Town ($1,570/mo vs $1,655/mo). Buying is cheaper in Amherst Town, where the median home runs $454,000 versus $512,700. Households earn more in Austin ($91,461 vs $65,938 a year).
City A
Amherst Town, MA
City B
Austin, TX
How much would you need to earn in Austin, TX to maintain your standard of living from Amherst Town, MA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Amherst Town
Massachusetts
Austin
Texas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,570/mo in Amherst Town and $1,655/mo in Austin. Median home values are within 11% of each other: $454,000 in Amherst Town and $512,700 in Austin.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Massachusetts tops out at 9.00% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Massachusetts and 6.25% in Texas; Austin has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Amherst Town
Income tax: 9.00%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Amherst Town.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($91,461/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Amherst Town cheaper than Austin?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Amherst Town vs Austin?
Median rent is $1,570/mo in Amherst Town, MA and $1,655/mo in Austin, TX. Amherst Town, MA has the lower rent by about 5%.
Which has higher salaries — Amherst Town or Austin?
Median household income is $65,938 in Amherst Town, MA and $91,461 in Austin, TX. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Amherst Town or Austin?
Texas has no state income tax. Massachusetts has a top rate of 9.00%.
What salary do I need in Austin to match my Amherst Town income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology