Ashburnham center
32 Main Street, Ashburnham, MA 01430
Living in Ashburnham, Massachusetts
Ashburnham is a town in Worcester County near the New Hampshire line, settled in 1736 on land originally granted to soldiers of a 1690 expedition to Canada as the "Plantation of Dorchester-Canada," and incorporated in 1765. The town includes the village of South Ashburnham and is the starting point for both the Wapack Trail and the Massachusetts Midstate Trail.
Ashburnham at a glance
- $14.87Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,246Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 20-25 minDrive to Fitchburg
- WorcesterCounty
Ashburnham's villages and zip codes
Ashburnham uses ZIP code 01430.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Ashburnham center | 01430 | The town's main village along Main Street, where Town Hall and the fire department are located. |
| South Ashburnham | 01430 | A village in the southern part of town, near the Gardner line. |
Things to do in Ashburnham, MA
Start with Mount Watatic and Wapack Trail, then 1 more below.
Mount Watatic
A 1,832-foot summit with open ledges and views into New Hampshire, reached by a short, popular hike. It is the northern terminus of the Massachusetts Midstate Trail and a stop on the Wapack Trail.
Route 119, Ashburnham, MA
Wapack Trail
A roughly 21-mile ridgeline hiking trail running from Ashburnham north into New Hampshire, connecting a chain of hills.
Trailhead off Route 119
Cushing Academy
A private preparatory boarding school founded in 1865, with a campus in the town center that includes public-facing arts and music events.
Ashburnham, MA 01430
Plan a visit
A little history
Ashburnham was settled in 1736 on land originally granted as the "Plantation of Dorchester-Canada" to officers and soldiers of a 1690 expedition to Canada, and was incorporated as a town in 1765.
Ivers Whitney Adams, a founder of Boston's first professional baseball team, the Boston Red Stockings, was an Ashburnham native who later funded the town's water supply.
Actress Bette Davis lived in Ashburnham while attending Cushing Academy, graduating in 1927.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Ashburnham
Ashburnham's hills along the New Hampshire border give it ridgeline hiking, including the start of two long-distance trails.
- Mount WataticOpen summit ledges with New Hampshire views, at the north end of the Massachusetts Midstate Trail.
- Wapack TrailA ridgeline trail beginning in Ashburnham and running north through a chain of hills into New Hampshire.
- Upper Naukeag LakeA spring-fed lake that is also the town's municipal water source, with recreational access in season.
Walkability and getting around Ashburnham
Ashburnham center has sidewalks around Town Hall and Main Street businesses, but most of the town, including South Ashburnham and its rural roads, is built for driving.
Drive times
- Fitchburg, about 12 miles20-25 min
- Fitchburg Municipal Airport, about 12 miles20-25 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) operates fixed-route bus, shuttle and para-transit service in the area. Ashburnham has no passenger rail station; the nearest MBTA Commuter Rail service is on the Fitchburg Line.
Ashburnham property taxes
Ashburnham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $14.87 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,487 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,246, on an average assessed value of $420,061.
Ashburnham's FY2026 tax rates
$14.87per $1,000, residential
- Residential$14.87 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$420,061
- Average single-family tax bill$6,246
- 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 | $18.88 |
| FY2023 | $16.55 |
| FY2024 | $15.75 |
| FY2025 | $14.87 |
| FY2026 | $14.87 |
Look up a Ashburnham property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Ashburnham
What we check on a Ashburnham purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, no curbside trash, smoke certificate, wells & septic.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Upper Naukeag Lake and the streams draining Ashburnham's hills put some low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for AshburnhamSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Ashburnham Fire Department before the sale closes.
Trash runs through a transfer station or private hauler
Ashburnham does not run town curbside trash collection. Residents use a permit-based transfer station or contract directly with one of the town's approved private waste haulers.
Learn moreSmoke and CO certificate needed before closing
Massachusetts sellers need a smoke and carbon monoxide detector certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. In Ashburnham, that inspection is scheduled through the Fire Department.
Learn moreOutlying parcels may use private well and septic
Town sewer covers parts of the village areas, but many outlying parcels rely on private wells and septic systems. Buyers should confirm which utilities serve a specific property before making an offer.
All 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 Ashburnham?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Ashburnham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Ashburnham: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Ashburnham.
- WaterAshburnham & Winchendon Joint Water Authority, drawing from the spring-fed Upper Naukeag Lake
- Sewer or septicTown sewer serves parts of the developed village areas; outlying parcels rely on private septic systems
- Trash and recyclingAshburnham runs a permit-based transfer station for trash and recycling; residents can also contract with one of the town's approved private waste haulers for curbside service.
- 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
Town Hall offices and contacts
Ashburnham Town Hall is at 32 Main Street, Ashburnham, MA 01430. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; closed Fridays. Main line: 978-827-4100.
- Town HallMain line and website978-827-4100
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments.
- Treasurer/Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Building, Land Use & Inspectional ServicesBuilding permits and inspections.
- Fire DepartmentFire, rescue and smoke/CO certificate inspections for home sales.
- Public WorksRoads, cemeteries and the transfer station.978-827-4120
- Water/Sewer DepartmentWater distribution and wastewater treatment.978-827-5714
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and town meeting records.
- Ashburnham Public LibraryThe town's public library.
- Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School DistrictThe town's public school district, including Oakmont Regional High School.
Ashburnham, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Ashburnham, MA?
Ashburnham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $14.87 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 Ashburnham?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,948 a year at $14.87 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Ashburnham have a split tax rate?
No. Ashburnham uses a single rate of $14.87 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Ashburnham?
The average single-family tax bill in Ashburnham was $6,246 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $420,061.
What county is Ashburnham, MA in?
Ashburnham is in Worcester County.
Is trash pickup curbside in Ashburnham?
No. Ashburnham has a permit-based transfer station; residents can also use an approved private hauler for curbside service.
What ZIP code does Ashburnham use?
Ashburnham uses ZIP code 01430.
Where does Ashburnham get its water?
Municipal water comes from the Ashburnham & Winchendon Joint Water Authority, drawing from the spring-fed Upper Naukeag Lake.
How far is Ashburnham from Fitchburg?
Ashburnham is about 12 miles from Fitchburg, roughly a 20-25 minute drive.
Which towns border Ashburnham?
Ashburnham borders Winchendon, Ashby, Gardner and Westminster in Massachusetts, and Rindge and New Ipswich in New Hampshire.
Towns near Ashburnham
Neighbors of Ashburnham, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Ashburnham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Ashburnham, MA - official website: ashburnham-ma.gov
- Departments - Town of Ashburnham, MA: ashburnham-ma.gov
- Transfer Station - Town of Ashburnham, MA: ashburnham-ma.gov
- Water/Sewer - Town of Ashburnham, MA: ashburnham-ma.gov
- Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District: awrsd.org
- Ashburnham Town Hall photo, 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: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.