Amesbury center / Market Square
1 Market Square, Amesbury, MA 01913
Living in Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury is a city in Essex County on the left bank of the Merrimack River, incorporated as a town in 1668 and reorganized with city status in 1996 while keeping a small-town feel. The Powow River runs through the middle of the city into the Merrimack, and its 19th-century mill buildings, once home to a major carriage-manufacturing industry that gave Amesbury the nickname 'Carriagetown,' now hold shops, restaurants and studios around Market Square and the Upper Millyard.
Amesbury at a glance
- $15.05Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $9,868Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 8-12 minDrive to Newburyport
- EssexCounty
Amesbury's zip code
All of Amesbury uses ZIP code 01913.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Amesbury center / Market Square | 01913 | The downtown around Market Square and the Powow River millyards, where City Hall and most shops and restaurants are located. |
Things to do in Amesbury, MA
Start with Lowell's Boat Shop and Chain Bridge, then 3 more below.
Lowell's Boat Shop
A National Historic Landmark boat shop built in 1793 by Simeon Lowell, considered the oldest continually operating boat shop in the United States. It's a working shop and living museum where dories and skiffs are still built by hand.
459 Main St, Amesbury, MA
Chain Bridge
A suspension bridge across the Merrimack River connecting Amesbury and Newburyport, first built in 1810 and considered the only suspension bridge in Massachusetts.
Route 1, Amesbury/Newburyport line
Whittier Home Museum
The Friend Street house where poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier lived for most of his life, preserved much as it was in his time and open for tours.
86 Friend St, Amesbury, MA
Cider Hill Farm
A working farm on Fern Avenue with pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, apples and other crops through the season, plus a farm store selling estate-grown hard cider and cider donuts.
45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA
Plan a visitAmesbury Carriage Museum
A museum tracing the carriage-manufacturing industry that made Amesbury a major carriage-building center in the 19th century.
Amesbury, MA
More worth a visit
- Brewery SilvaticusA craft brewery taproom in Amesbury with rotating seasonal beers.
- BareWolf BrewingA community-oriented craft brewery taproom in Amesbury.
A little history
Amesbury was settled in 1642 and incorporated as a town in 1668; it was reorganized with city status in 1996 while retaining the character of a small New England town.
Starting around 1800, Amesbury became a major center of carriage manufacturing, earning it the nickname 'Carriagetown,' with the mill buildings along the Powow River now repurposed for shops, restaurants and studios.
Poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier lived most of his life in Amesbury; his Friend Street home is preserved as the Whittier Home Museum.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Amesbury
The Merrimack and Powow rivers give Amesbury its waterfront character downtown, and Lake Gardner and Lake Attitash offer additional water access outside the city center.
- Lake GardnerA city-owned lake and park used for walking, fishing and non-motorized boating.
- Lake AttitashA large lake on Amesbury's western side, shared with Merrimac, used for boating and fishing.
- Cider Hill FarmA working farm with pick-your-own fields and trails through the growing season.More information
Where to eat in Amesbury: restaurants and coffee
4 places in Amesbury to try, including bakery and cafe and pizza restaurant. No one paid to be listed.
Market Square Bakehouse
Bakery and cafe
A downtown Amesbury bakery and cafe serving coffee, tea, soups, salads and sandwiches at Market Square.
5 Market Square, Amesbury, MA 01913
Flatbread Company
Pizza restaurant
A wood-fired pizza restaurant in a former mill building at Market Square, open in Amesbury for more than 20 years.
5 Market Square, Amesbury, MA 01913
Phat Cats Bistro
New American restaurant
A casual-restaurant on Market Street serving New American dishes.
65A Market St, Amesbury, MA 01913
Cider Hill Farm
Farm store and bakery
A farm store selling estate-grown hard cider, cider donuts and pick-your-own produce in season.
45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA 01913 · ciderhill.com
Walkability and getting around Amesbury
Downtown Amesbury around Market Square and the Upper Millyard is compact and walkable, with converted mill buildings holding shops, restaurants and studios within a few blocks, but neighborhoods outside the center are more spread out and generally require a car.
Drive times
- Newburyport, about 3 miles8-12 min
- Logan International Airport, about 40 miles50-60 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa) runs the fare-free Route 19 bus connecting Amesbury's Costello Station and Carriagetown Marketplace to downtown Newburyport and the MBTA Commuter Rail station there, with Route 17 continuing to Haverhill. Amesbury has no train station of its own; the nearest MBTA Commuter Rail station, on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, is in Newburyport.
Amesbury property taxes
Amesbury's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.05 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,505 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $9,868, on an average assessed value of $655,694.
Amesbury's FY2026 tax rates
$15.05per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.05 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$655,694
- Average single-family tax bill$9,868
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $17.69 |
| FY2023 | $16.34 |
| FY2024 | $15.64 |
| FY2025 | $15.30 |
| FY2026 | $15.05 |
Look up a Amesbury property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- City ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 978-388-8102
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Amesbury
What we check on a Amesbury purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, new pay-as-you-throw trash program.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Essex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
The Merrimack and Powow rivers, which meet in downtown Amesbury, put some low-lying riverfront areas within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for AmesburySmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Amesbury Fire Department before the sale closes.
Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing
Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Amesbury's Fire Department, reachable 24/7, handles these inspections.
Amesbury Fire DepartmentTrash collection is switching to a sticker system
Starting October 1, 2026, Amesbury requires a $100 annual sticker per trash barrel for curbside pickup; recycling remains free of a sticker requirement. Ask a seller whether the current year's sticker is in place before you move in.
Trash Sticker ProgramAll loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Amesbury?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Amesbury address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Amesbury: utilities, trash and city hall
Who to call in Amesbury: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- Natural gasNational Grid serves parts of the city
- WaterCity of Amesbury Department of Public Works, Water Division
- Sewer or septicThe city's Department of Public Works maintains public sewer in the developed parts of the city.
- Trash and recyclingAmesbury is moving to a pay-as-you-throw system: starting October 1, 2026, curbside trash collection requires an annual $100 sticker per barrel, purchased through the city's online portal; stickers bought that fall remain valid through 2027. Recycling carts do not require a sticker.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
City Hall offices and contacts
Amesbury City Hall is at 1 Market Square, Amesbury, MA 01913. Main line: 978-388-8100.
- City HallMain line and website978-388-8100
- City ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.978-388-8100
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.978-388-8102
- Treasurer / CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.978-388-8105
- PlanningZoning and land-use planning.978-300-8156
- Department of Public WorksRoads, water, sewer and trash/recycling.978-388-8116
- Inspectional Services / BuildingBuilding permits and inspections.978-300-8150
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO certificate inspections.978-388-1333
- Board of HealthPublic health, septic and well permitting.978-300-8159
- Amesbury Public LibraryThe city's public library.
- Amesbury Public SchoolsThe city's public school district.
Amesbury, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Amesbury, MA?
Amesbury's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.05 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Amesbury?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,020 a year at $15.05 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Amesbury have a split tax rate?
No. Amesbury uses a single rate of $15.05 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Amesbury?
The average single-family tax bill in Amesbury was $9,868 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $655,694.
What county is Amesbury, MA in?
Amesbury is in Essex County.
Is Amesbury a city or a town?
Amesbury was incorporated as a town in 1668 and adopted city status in 1996, though it's still often called a town.
What ZIP code does Amesbury use?
All of Amesbury uses ZIP code 01913.
Is there a train station in Amesbury?
No. The nearest MBTA Commuter Rail station, on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, is in Newburyport, reachable by the fare-free MeVa Route 19 bus.
Who supplies electricity and gas in Amesbury?
National Grid provides both electric and natural gas service in Amesbury.
Is trash pickup curbside in Amesbury, and is it pay-as-you-throw?
Yes, trash is collected curbside, and starting October 1, 2026 the city requires a $100 annual sticker per barrel for trash collection; recycling doesn't need a sticker.
Towns near Amesbury
Neighbors of Amesbury, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Amesbury, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- City of Amesbury official website: amesburyma.gov
- Trash Sticker Program - Amesbury, MA: amesburyma.gov
- Recycling, Waste & Compost - Amesbury, MA: amesburyma.gov
- Amesbury, MA staff directory: amesburyma.gov
- Lowell's Boat Shop - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Cider Hill Farm official site: ciderhill.com
- MeVa Transit Bus Routes - City of Newburyport: cityofnewburyport.com
- Amesbury Town Hall.JPG - Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Fletcher6, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.