Carlisle center
66 Westford Street, Carlisle, MA 01741
Living in Carlisle, Massachusetts
Carlisle is a town in Middlesex County about 19 miles northwest of Boston, first settled in 1651 on land taken from several neighboring towns, made a district of Concord in 1780, and incorporated as its own town in 1805. It was named for Carlisle, England, the birthplace of early settler James Adams. Roughly a quarter of the town is protected conservation land, including Great Brook Farm State Park, and Carlisle has a 2-acre minimum lot size for new residential development.
Carlisle at a glance
- $12.82Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $17,379Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 30-40 minDrive to Boston
- MiddlesexCounty
Carlisle's zip code
The whole town uses ZIP code 01741.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Carlisle center | 01741 | Along Westford Street, where Town Hall, the Old Burying Ground, and Carlisle Public School are located. |
Things to do in Carlisle, MA
Start with Great Brook Farm State Park and Great Brook Ski Touring Center, then 3 more below.
Great Brook Farm State Park
A 909-acre day-use state park built around an active dairy farm, established in 1967 and managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. It has more than 20 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, dog-walking and horseback riding, canoeing and fishing on Meadow Pond, dairy farm tours from May through October, and a seasonal ice cream stand.
Lowell Street/Concord Street area, Carlisle, MA
Great Brook Ski Touring Center
A cross-country ski touring center within Great Brook Farm State Park, open December through March with rentals for skiing and snowshoeing.
Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, MA
Foss Farm
Town conservation land with fields, wetlands and walking trails.
Carlisle, MA
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
A paved multi-use rail trail passing through Carlisle, used for walking, running and biking.
Carlisle, MA
Gleason Public Library
The town's public library on Bedford Road, part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.
22 Bedford Road, Carlisle, MA
A little history
English colonists settled the area that became Carlisle in 1651, on parcels taken from several neighboring towns.
The area was made a district of Concord in 1780 before incorporating as the separate town of Carlisle in 1805, named for Carlisle, England, the birthplace of early settler James Adams.
Great Brook Farm State Park was established in 1967 around a working dairy farm and is now a 909-acre state park.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Carlisle
About a quarter of Carlisle is protected conservation land, anchored by Great Brook Farm State Park, with additional trail networks at Foss Farm and along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
- Great Brook Farm State ParkOver 20 miles of trails through an active dairy farm, plus canoeing and fishing on Meadow Pond.
- Foss FarmTown-owned fields and wetlands with walking trails.
- Bruce Freeman Rail TrailA paved rail trail for walking, running and biking through town.
Where to eat in Carlisle: restaurants and coffee
1 places in Carlisle to try, including ice cream stand. No one paid to be listed.
Kimball Farm
Ice cream stand
An ice cream stand on Bedford Road scooping dozens of homemade flavors, with outdoor picnic-table seating.
343 Bedford Road (Route 225), Carlisle, MA 01741 · kimballfarm.com
Walkability and getting around Carlisle
Carlisle center along Westford Street has Town Hall, the school, and the historic Old Burying Ground, but no concentrated retail strip with sidewalks. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail gives residents a paved route for walking and biking, but most of the town, with its two-acre minimum lots and conservation land, requires a car.
Drive times
- Boston, about 19 miles30-40 min
- Logan International Airport, about 25 miles40-50 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Carlisle has no MBTA Commuter Rail station or fixed-route local bus service; the nearest commuter rail stations are in neighboring Concord and Billerica.
Carlisle property taxes
Carlisle's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.82 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $12.81. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,282 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $17,379, on an average assessed value of $1,355,604.
Carlisle's FY2026 tax rates
$12.82per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.82 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$12.81 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$1,355,604
- Average single-family tax bill$17,379
- 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 | $16.50 |
| FY2023 | $14.15 |
| FY2024 | $13.33 |
| FY2025 | $13.18 |
| FY2026 | $12.82 |
Look up a Carlisle 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 Carlisle
What we check on a Carlisle purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, private wells and septic, two-acre zoning, smoke & co certificate.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Middlesex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Wetlands and brooks around Great Brook Farm State Park and Foss Farm put some low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for CarlisleSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Carlisle Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 978-369-1442 to schedule.
Carlisle Fire Department pageNearly all homes are on private wells and septic
Carlisle has no townwide public water or sewer system. The Board of Health's Pump and Well Inspector handles well inspections, and a Title 5 septic inspection is typically required before a home sale closes.
Carlisle Board of HealthMost residential lots require two acres
Carlisle maintains a two-acre minimum lot size for new residential development, which shapes lot sizes and available inventory across the town.
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 sale can close. Contact the Carlisle Fire Department to schedule the inspection.
Carlisle Fire DepartmentAll 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 Carlisle?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Carlisle address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Carlisle: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Carlisle: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service confirmed
- WaterPrivate wells for most homes
- Sewer or septicNearly all of the town relies on private septic systems; there is no townwide public sewer system.
- Trash and recyclingCarlisle does not offer curbside trash collection. Residents bring trash and recyclables to the town Transfer Station on Morse Road with a paid annual 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
Carlisle Transfer Station
59 Morse Road, Carlisle, MA 01741 Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
First sticker $55 per calendar year; additional sticker $15 per residence, maximum two without special approval
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Carlisle Town Hall is at 66 Westford Street, Carlisle, MA 01741. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.. Main line: 978-369-6155.
- Town HallMain line and website978-369-6155
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.978-369-6155
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments.
- Treasurer/Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning BoardZoning, land use and planning applications.
- Department of Public WorksRoads, the transfer station and town infrastructure.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, well guidance and health permits.978-369-0283
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention, suppression and inspections.978-369-1442
- Gleason Public LibraryThe town's public library.
- Carlisle Public SchoolsThe town's K-8 school district; Concord-Carlisle Regional High School serves Carlisle for grades 9-12.
Carlisle, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Carlisle, MA?
Carlisle's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.82 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $12.81. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Carlisle?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,128 a year at $12.82 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Carlisle have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $12.82 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $12.81.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Carlisle?
The average single-family tax bill in Carlisle was $17,379 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,355,604.
Is trash pickup curbside or transfer station in Carlisle?
Carlisle has no curbside trash collection. Residents use the town Transfer Station at 59 Morse Road, open Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with a paid annual sticker.
Who supplies electricity in Carlisle?
Eversource provides electric service in Carlisle.
What ZIP code does Carlisle use?
The whole town uses ZIP code 01741.
Is there public transit in Carlisle?
Carlisle has no MBTA Commuter Rail station or fixed-route local bus service; the nearest stations are in Concord and Billerica.
Does Carlisle have public water and sewer?
No. Nearly all homes in Carlisle rely on private wells and septic systems.
What is the minimum lot size in Carlisle?
Carlisle requires a two-acre minimum lot size for new residential development.
Towns near Carlisle
Neighbors of Carlisle, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Carlisle, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Great Brook Farm State Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Carlisle, MA official website: carlislema.gov
- Transfer Station - Carlisle, MA: carlislema.gov
- Fire Department - Carlisle, MA: carlislema.gov
- Town Clerk - Carlisle, MA: carlislema.gov
- Board of Health - Carlisle, MA: carlislema.gov
- Kimball Farm, Carlisle location: kimballfarm.com
- Foss Farm 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-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.