Amherst is a city located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, within the Connecticut River valley region of the United States. Under Massachusetts state law, it is officially classified as a city, though it maintains the designation "The Town of" in its official name despite having a council-manager form of government.
As of the 2020 census, Amherst had a population of 39,263, making it the most populated municipality in Hampshire County. The area is notable for hosting three of the Five Colleges: Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.