Massachusetts property tax by county

Same home, different county

On a $587,550 home (the typical county median in Massachusetts), the annual property tax bill depends heavily on where you buy:

Estimate: purchase price × each county's effective rate. Actual bills depend on assessed value, local levies, and exemptions.

Lowest property tax rates in Massachusetts

The five Massachusetts counties with the lowest effective property tax rates, useful for buyers comparing total cost of ownership across the state.

Highest property tax rates in Massachusetts

The five Massachusettscounties with the highest effective property tax rates. High rates often reflect strong school district funding or municipal services rather than weakness, but they materially change a buyer's monthly carrying cost.

Massachusetts real estate transfer tax

Massachusetts charges a combined transfer tax of about 0.46% of the purchase price. On a $587,550 home, that is roughly $2,679 in total.

Deeds Excise is $4.56/$1,000 (0.456%) statewide, seller-paid. Barnstable County (Cape Cod) is higher: $6.48/$1,000 (0.648%). Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard add a 2% Land Bank Fee, buyer-paid. Some municipalities (e.g., Boston) have enacted or proposed additional transfer fees.

Massachusetts is an attorney-closing state: expect a real estate attorney fee of roughly $600–$1,500 at closing.

Official Massachusetts source → · Verified April 2026

Closing costs in Massachusetts

Across Massachusetts's 14 counties, buyer closing costs run $5,121 to $22,886 at each county's median home value with 20% down. Cash needed at closing, with closing costs and the down payment, runs $64,909 to $341,646. Pick your county for your own figures.