Amherst, Mass. | $475,000

A 1948 Cape Cod-style house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.3-acre lot

Amherst is a charming college town in the Pioneer Valley region of western Massachusetts, with a highly ranked liberal arts school and a flagship state university. This house is a few blocks from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and half a block from a bus stop; the bus ride to Main Street, lined with restaurants and country inns, takes about 10 minutes.

Northampton and Holyoke are also easily accessible by bus or car, making the location of this property convenient for faculty and staff of the schools that make up the Five College Consortium.

Size: 1,579 square feet

Price per square foot: $301

Indoors: From the driveway, a gravel path leads to the red front door in the center of the facade. Just beyond is a living room with hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves and a fireplace with a wood-burning insert.

Through the living room is a bright dining room with an original built-in china cabinet. A sunroom with built-in shelves and a window seat is off this space. To the left of the dining room is a kitchen with a farmhouse-style sink, concrete counters and a subway-tile backsplash.