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 loans
Living in Boylston, Massachusetts
Boylston is a town in Worcester County northeast of the city of Worcester, settled around 1706 and incorporated in 1786. The Wachusett Reservoir, part of the Boston-area water supply, covers much of the town's northwestern section, and New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill sits on a hillside overlooking it.
Boylston at a glance
- $13.58Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $9,379Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- WorcesterCounty
- 1786Year incorporated
Boylston's zip code
All of Boylston uses ZIP code 01505.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Boylston center | 01505 | The town center around the common, Town Hall and the historic church. |
Things to do in Boylston, MA
Start with New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill and Wachusett Reservoir, then 2 more below.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
A 200-acre, four-season botanic garden with 18 distinct garden spaces, preserved woodlands and walking trails, overlooking the Wachusett Reservoir. Founded in 1986 by the Worcester County Horticultural Society on the former Tower Hill Farm.
Boylston
Wachusett Reservoir
The second-largest body of water in Massachusetts, part of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's Boston-area water supply, with a section in Boylston's northwest.
Boylston
Boylston Public Library
The town's public library, established in 1880.
695 Main Street, Boylston, MA 01505
Plan a visitBoylston Historical Society and Museum
A local history museum.
Boylston
A little history
Boylston was originally the North Parish of Shrewsbury, formed from land taken from Shrewsbury and Lancaster; it was incorporated as its own town in 1786 and named for benefactor Ward Nicholas Boylston, whose 1797 fund eventually paid for the town hall and school building.
Mills that once operated on the Nashua River in town ended when the Wachusett Reservoir was built, flooding much of the surrounding land.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Boylston
The Wachusett Reservoir covers a large share of northwestern Boylston, and Tower Hill's gardens and woodlands sit on the hillside above it.
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower HillGardens, conservatories and walking trails on a hillside above the reservoir.
- Wachusett Reservoir shorelinePublic shoreline access points managed by the MWRA around the reservoir.
Walkability and getting around Boylston
Boylston center around the common and Main Street is walkable at a small-town scale. Most of the rest of town, including the area around the reservoir, is low-density and requires a car.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 7 miles
- Worcester Regional Airport, about 11 miles
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Boylston has no fixed-route public transit; the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) serves Worcester but does not run scheduled routes into Boylston.
Boylston property taxes
Boylston's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.58 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,358 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $9,379, on an average assessed value of $690,650.
Boylston's FY2026 tax rates
$13.58per $1,000, residential
- Residential$13.58 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$690,650
- Average single-family tax bill$9,379
- 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 | $15.84 |
| FY2023 | $14.40 |
| FY2024 | $13.81 |
| FY2025 | $13.83 |
| FY2026 | $13.58 |
Look up a Boylston property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Boylston
What we check on a Boylston purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, municipal utilities, reservoir land.
Check the flood zone first
The Wachusett Reservoir covers a large part of northwestern Boylston; areas near the reservoir and along the Nashua River watershed can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for BoylstonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Boylston Fire Department before the sale closes.
Boylston Fire Department pageTown-owned electric and a separate water district
Boylston has its own municipal Light Department for electric service, and water is provided by the Boylston Water District, a separate entity from town government. Buyers should confirm which district serves a specific address.
Boylston Water DistrictWatershed protection near the reservoir
Land near the Wachusett Reservoir is part of the MWRA's protected watershed; buyers near the shoreline should check watershed and setback restrictions before planning any site work.
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 Boylston?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Boylston address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Boylston: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Boylston: Boylston Light Department (town-owned) for power.
- ElectricBoylston Light Department (town-owned)
- WaterBoylston Water District, a separate entity from the town government, serves the water system; the Wachusett Reservoir in town supplies the Boston-area MWRA system but is not the town's own water source.
- 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
Boylston Town Hall is at 221 Main Street, Boylston, MA 01505. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., with additional Monday evening hours 6:00-8:00 p.m.; closed Friday. Main line: 508-869-0143.
- Town HallMain line and website508-869-0143
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and licensing
- Assessors' OfficeProperty values and assessments
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections and well permits
- Fire DepartmentFire and smoke/CO certificate inspections
- Highway DepartmentRoads and public works
- Parks & RecreationParks and recreation programs
- Planning OfficeLand use and subdivision review
- Light DepartmentMunicipal electric utility
- Boylston Water DistrictWater service (separate district entity)508-869-3400
- Boylston Public LibraryPublic library508-869-2371
- Berlin-Boylston Regional School DistrictSchool district serving Boylston
Boylston, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Boylston, MA?
Boylston's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.58 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 Boylston?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,432 a year at $13.58 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Boylston have a split tax rate?
No. Boylston uses a single rate of $13.58 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Boylston?
The average single-family tax bill in Boylston was $9,379 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $690,650.
Who supplies electricity in Boylston?
The town's own Light Department, a municipal utility, rather than National Grid or Eversource.
Who supplies water in Boylston?
The Boylston Water District, a district separate from the town government.
What ZIP code covers Boylston?
All of Boylston uses 01505.
How far is Boylston from Worcester?
About 7 miles.
Towns near Boylston
Neighbors of Boylston, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Boylston, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Boylston official website: boylston-ma.gov
- Boylston Public Library: boylstonlibrary.org
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Wachusett Reservoir - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.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: Marcbela, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.