Property Tax Rates by Town
Comprehensive ranking of residential property tax rates across 74 Boston Metro towns. Understanding tax rates is crucial for calculating the true cost of homeownership.
Key Insights & Analysis
📊 Rate Variation
Tax rates vary dramatically across the Boston Metro area, ranging from $6.48 to $19.45 per thousand. This represents a 200% difference in tax burden between the highest and lowest taxed towns.
🏙️ Urban vs. Suburban
Cities like Cambridge and Boston have surprisingly low residential rates due to substantial commercial tax bases. Cambridge's rate of $6.48 is among the lowest, while suburban towns often exceed $13-15 per thousand.
💰 Real Dollar Impact
On a $1M home, the difference between the highest and lowest rates equals $12970 in annual taxes— that's $1081/month that could go toward your mortgage instead.
🎓 Schools vs. Taxes
Higher tax rates don't always correlate with better schools. Some luxury towns like Weston have excellent schools with moderate taxes, while working-class suburbs may have high rates due to smaller commercial tax bases.
🏖️ Coastal Premium
South Shore coastal towns like Cohasset, Duxbury, and Marblehead enjoy some of the lowest tax rates in the region, often below $11 per thousand, thanks to high property values and efficient municipal services.
⚠️ Hidden Costs
Don't forget: property taxes compound over time and increase with home values. A seemingly small rate difference of $2/thousandcosts an extra $2,000/year on a $1M home—$60,000+ over 30 years (not accounting for appreciation).
Note: Rates shown are residential rates for FY2025 based on the most recent data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, local assessors, and municipal reports. Some towns offer residential exemptions (e.g., Cambridge, Boston) which can reduce effective rates. Always verify current rates with your local assessor before making decisions.
| Rank | Category | Annual Tax on $500K | Annual Tax on $1M | Annual Tax on $1.5M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Acton | $19.45per $1,000 | High | $9,725 | $19,450 | $29,175 |
| #2 | Franklin | $16.89per $1,000 | High | $8,445 | $16,890 | $25,335 |
| #3 | Westborough | $16.41per $1,000 | High | $8,205 | $16,410 | $24,615 |
| #4 | Reading | $15.82per $1,000 | High | $7,910 | $15,820 | $23,730 |
| #5 | Chelsea | $15.67per $1,000 | High | $7,835 | $15,670 | $23,505 |
| #6 | Framingham | $15.45per $1,000 | High | $7,725 | $15,450 | $23,175 |
| #7 | Malden | $15.34per $1,000 | High | $7,670 | $15,340 | $23,010 |
| #8 | Abington | $15.22per $1,000 | High | $7,610 | $15,220 | $22,830 |
| #9 | Everett | $15.12per $1,000 | High | $7,560 | $15,120 | $22,680 |
| #10 | Revere | $14.96per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,480 | $14,960 | $22,440 |
| #11 | Salem | $14.92per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,460 | $14,920 | $22,380 |
| #12 | Lynn | $14.85per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,425 | $14,850 | $22,275 |
| #13 | Andover | $14.60per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,300 | $14,600 | $21,900 |
| #14 | Woburn | $14.58per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,290 | $14,580 | $21,870 |
| #15 | Rockland | $14.23per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,115 | $14,230 | $21,345 |
| #16 | Northborough | $14.23per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,115 | $14,230 | $21,345 |
| #17 | Peabody | $14.22per $1,000 | Above Avg | $7,110 | $14,220 | $21,330 |
| #18 | Hanson | $13.89per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,945 | $13,890 | $20,835 |
| #19 | Burlington | $13.89per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,945 | $13,890 | $20,835 |
| #20 | Norwood | $13.89per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,945 | $13,890 | $20,835 |
| #21 | Concord | $13.84per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,920 | $13,840 | $20,760 |
| #22 | Harvard | $13.78per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,890 | $13,780 | $20,670 |
| #23 | Westford | $13.76per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,880 | $13,760 | $20,640 |
| #24 | Weymouth | $13.67per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,835 | $13,670 | $20,505 |
| #25 | Wakefield | $13.67per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,835 | $13,670 | $20,505 |
| #26 | Sharon | $13.67per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,835 | $13,670 | $20,505 |
| #27 | Dedham | $13.56per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,780 | $13,560 | $20,340 |
| #28 | Quincy | $13.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,725 | $13,450 | $20,175 |
| #29 | Kingston | $13.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,725 | $13,450 | $20,175 |
| #30 | Sudbury | $13.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,725 | $13,450 | $20,175 |
| #31 | Wilmington | $13.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,725 | $13,450 | $20,175 |
| #32 | Medford | $13.42per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,710 | $13,420 | $20,130 |
| #33 | Melrose | $13.28per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,640 | $13,280 | $19,920 |
| #34 | Needham | $13.24per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,620 | $13,240 | $19,860 |
| #35 | Canton | $13.23per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,615 | $13,230 | $19,845 |
| #36 | Holliston | $13.23per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,615 | $13,230 | $19,845 |
| #37 | Waltham | $13.18per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,590 | $13,180 | $19,770 |
| #38 | Pembroke | $13.12per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,560 | $13,120 | $19,680 |
| #39 | Wayland | $13.12per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,560 | $13,120 | $19,680 |
| #40 | North Reading | $13.12per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,560 | $13,120 | $19,680 |
| #41 | Watertown | $12.95per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,475 | $12,950 | $19,425 |
| #42 | Plymouth | $12.89per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,445 | $12,890 | $19,335 |
| #43 | Hopkinton | $12.89per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,445 | $12,890 | $19,335 |
| #44 | Stoneham | $12.87per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,435 | $12,870 | $19,305 |
| #45 | Winchester | $12.84per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,420 | $12,840 | $19,260 |
| #46 | Hanover | $12.78per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,390 | $12,780 | $19,170 |
| #47 | Natick | $12.67per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,335 | $12,670 | $19,005 |
| #48 | Swampscott | $12.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,225 | $12,450 | $18,675 |
| #49 | Lynnfield | $12.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,225 | $12,450 | $18,675 |
| #50 | Medfield | $12.45per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,225 | $12,450 | $18,675 |
| #51 | Braintree | $12.34per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,170 | $12,340 | $18,510 |
| #52 | Marshfield | $12.34per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,170 | $12,340 | $18,510 |
| #53 | Lexington | $12.23per $1,000 | Above Avg | $6,115 | $12,230 | $18,345 |
| #54 | Milton | $11.98per $1,000 | Average | $5,990 | $11,980 | $17,970 |
| #55 | Hull | $11.98per $1,000 | Average | $5,990 | $11,980 | $17,970 |
| #56 | Wellesley | $11.89per $1,000 | Average | $5,945 | $11,890 | $17,835 |
| #57 | Scituate | $11.89per $1,000 | Average | $5,945 | $11,890 | $17,835 |
| #58 | Hingham | $11.67per $1,000 | Average | $5,835 | $11,670 | $17,505 |
| #59 | Belmont | $11.56per $1,000 | Average | $5,780 | $11,560 | $17,340 |
| #60 | Sherborn | $11.56per $1,000 | Average | $5,780 | $11,560 | $17,340 |
| #61 | Arlington | $11.42per $1,000 | Average | $5,710 | $11,420 | $17,130 |
| #62 | Westwood | $11.34per $1,000 | Average | $5,670 | $11,340 | $17,010 |
| #63 | North Andover | $11.26per $1,000 | Average | $5,630 | $11,260 | $16,890 |
| #64 | Weston | $11.24per $1,000 | Average | $5,620 | $11,240 | $16,860 |
| #65 | Norwell | $11.23per $1,000 | Average | $5,615 | $11,230 | $16,845 |
| #66 | Dover | $10.89per $1,000 | Average | $5,445 | $10,890 | $16,335 |
| #67 | Newton | $10.78per $1,000 | Average | $5,390 | $10,780 | $16,170 |
| #68 | Marblehead | $10.67per $1,000 | Average | $5,335 | $10,670 | $16,005 |
| #69 | Duxbury | $10.56per $1,000 | Average | $5,280 | $10,560 | $15,840 |
| #70 | Boston | $10.52per $1,000 | Average | $5,260 | $10,520 | $15,780 |
| #71 | Somerville | $10.34per $1,000 | Average | $5,170 | $10,340 | $15,510 |
| #72 | Cohasset | $10.23per $1,000 | Average | $5,115 | $10,230 | $15,345 |
| #73 | Brookline | $10.14per $1,000 | Average | $5,070 | $10,140 | $15,210 |
| #74 | Cambridge | $6.48per $1,000 | Low | $3,240 | $6,480 | $9,720 |