First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Hampshire County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Chesterfield, Massachusetts
Chesterfield is a rural hill town in Hampshire County, in the region known as the Hilltowns, about 26 miles east of Pittsfield and 30 miles northwest of Springfield. It was settled in 1760 and incorporated in 1762, and its town center has well-preserved Federal-period houses along Main Road. The Westfield River cuts through Chesterfield Gorge on the town's western side.
Chesterfield at a glance
- $15.26Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $5,767Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 40-50 minDrive to Springfield
- HampshireCounty
Chesterfield's villages and zip codes
Chesterfield uses ZIP code 01012 for the center and 01084 for West Chesterfield; some addresses near the town line use the Cummington (01026) or Williamsburg (01096) ZIP codes.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield center | 01012 | The town's main village, where the Town Offices at 422 Main Road are located. |
| West Chesterfield | 01084 | A section of town in the west, with its own ZIP code. |
Things to do in Chesterfield, MA
Start with Chesterfield Gorge and Indian Hollow.
Chesterfield Gorge
A property of the Trustees of Reservations along the Westfield River, where the river cuts through a narrow rock gorge. Remnants of an 18th-century bridge abutment stand at the site, once part of the Boston-to-Albany post road.
River Road, Chesterfield, MA
Indian Hollow
A wooded natural area in town noted as a local point of interest.
Chesterfield, MA
A little history
Chesterfield was first settled in 1760 and officially incorporated in 1762, taking its name from the Earl of Chesterfield.
The town's early economy relied on agriculture and Merino sheep wool, and later on sawmills, tanneries and cloth-dressing mills, before that industry declined by the early 20th century.
Chesterfield holds the Massachusetts record for both statewide temperature extremes recorded nearby in the hilltowns region: a high of 107°F on August 2, 1975, and a low of -35°F on January 12, 1981, both recorded in neighboring Chester.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Chesterfield
The Westfield River and Chesterfield Gorge give the town its main outdoor destination, in a hill-country landscape shared with its Hilltowns neighbors.
- Chesterfield GorgeA Trustees of Reservations property where the Westfield River runs through a rock gorge, with a short walking trail along the rim.
- Westfield RiverThe river, part of a federally designated Wild and Scenic River corridor, runs along the town's western side.
Walkability and getting around Chesterfield
Chesterfield center has no sidewalked commercial strip; the town is rural and built for driving, with the Town Offices, fire station and library clustered along Main Road.
Drive times
- Springfield, about 30 miles40-50 min
- Bradley International Airport, about 50 miles60-70 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Chesterfield has no fixed-route PVTA bus service and no passenger rail station. Springfield, the nearest city, is about 30 miles southeast via Route 9 and Route 143.
Chesterfield property taxes
Chesterfield's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.26 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,526 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,767, on an average assessed value of $377,900.
Chesterfield's FY2026 tax rates
$15.26per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.26 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$377,900
- Average single-family tax bill$5,767
- 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 | $18.25 |
| FY2023 | $15.92 |
| FY2024 | $14.97 |
| FY2025 | $15.52 |
| FY2026 | $15.26 |
Look up a Chesterfield property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 413-296-4010
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Chesterfield
What we check on a Chesterfield purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, smoke certificate.
Check the flood zone first
The Westfield River, including the stretch through Chesterfield Gorge, puts low-lying parcels near the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for ChesterfieldSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Chesterfield Fire Department before the sale closes.
Most homes use private wells and septic
Chesterfield has no townwide public water or sewer system found; homes typically rely on private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before most home sales, arranged through the Board of Health.
Smoke 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 Chesterfield, that inspection is scheduled through the Fire Department.
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 Chesterfield?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Chesterfield address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Chesterfield: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Chesterfield: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service
- WaterMostly private wells; no townwide public water system found
- Sewer or septicMost of the town relies on private septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingChesterfield operates a Transfer Station for trash and recycling; check current hours and permit fees with the Highway Department.
- 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 Offices offices and contacts
Chesterfield Town Offices is at 422 Main Road, Chesterfield, MA 01012. Main line: 413-296-4771.
- Town OfficesMain line and website413-296-4771
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and town meeting records.413-296-4741
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments.413-296-4010
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.413-296-4771 ext 2
- Building InspectorBuilding permits and inspections.413-296-0127
- Board of HealthSeptic (Title 5) and well permitting.413-296-4771 ext 5
- Fire DepartmentFire, rescue and smoke/CO certificate inspections for home sales.413-296-4049
- Highway DepartmentRoads and the town transfer station.413-296-4727
- Chesterfield Free Public LibraryThe town's public library.413-296-4735
- Hampshire Regional School DistrictThe town's regional public school district.
Chesterfield, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Chesterfield, MA?
Chesterfield's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.26 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 Chesterfield?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,104 a year at $15.26 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Chesterfield have a split tax rate?
No. Chesterfield uses a single rate of $15.26 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Chesterfield?
The average single-family tax bill in Chesterfield was $5,767 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $377,900.
Is trash pickup curbside in Chesterfield?
Chesterfield operates a town transfer station through its Highway Department; check current hours and permit fees directly with the town.
Who supplies electricity in Chesterfield?
Eversource is the electric utility serving Chesterfield.
What ZIP codes does Chesterfield use?
Chesterfield center uses 01012 and West Chesterfield uses 01084; some properties near the town line use neighboring Cummington (01026) or Williamsburg (01096) ZIP codes.
How far is Chesterfield from Springfield?
Chesterfield is about 30 miles from Springfield, roughly a 40-50 minute drive.
Which towns border Chesterfield?
Chesterfield borders Worthington, Cummington, Goshen and Williamsburg, all in Massachusetts.
Is there PVTA bus service in Chesterfield?
No. Chesterfield has no fixed-route PVTA bus service and no passenger rail station.
Towns near Chesterfield
Neighbors of Chesterfield, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Chesterfield, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Chesterfield, MA - official website: townofchesterfieldma.com
- Town of Chesterfield contact directory (PDF): townofchesterfieldma.com
- Worthington, Massachusetts - Wikipedia (bordering towns): en.wikipedia.org
- Cummington, Massachusetts - Wikipedia (bordering towns): en.wikipedia.org
- Goshen, Massachusetts - Wikipedia (formed from Chesterfield, 1781): en.wikipedia.org
- Post Office, Chesterfield MA 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 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.