First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Franklin County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Colrain, Massachusetts
Colrain is a town in Franklin County on the Vermont line, in the northeastern Berkshire foothills. The Green River forms its eastern border and the North River's branches meet in town. First settled in 1735 and incorporated in 1761, Colrain took its name from Lord Coleraine, an Irish peer; in May 1812 it became the first town in the United States to fly the U.S. flag over a public schoolhouse.
Colrain at a glance
- $17.82Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,791Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-20 minDrive to Greenfield
- FranklinCounty
Colrain's villages and zip codes
Colrain uses a single ZIP code, 01340, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Colrain center | 01340 | Along Main Road (Route 112), where Town Hall and the Griswold Memorial Library are located; the center is a designated historic district. |
| Shattuckville | 01340 | A village along the North River in southeastern Colrain. |
| Griswoldville | 01340 | A former mill village along the North River. |
| Lyonsville | 01340 | A village in southern Colrain along Route 112. |
Things to do in Colrain, MA
Start with Colrain Center Historic District and Catamount State Forest.
Colrain Center Historic District
A historic district around the town center that has changed little in roughly 150 years, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Main Road, Colrain, MA
Catamount State Forest
State forest land in Colrain with trails through the northeastern Berkshire hills.
Colrain, MA
More worth a visit
- H.O. Cook State ForestAdditional state forest land in Colrain for hiking.
A little history
Colrain was first settled in 1735 and incorporated in 1761, taking its name from Lord Coleraine, an Irish peer.
In May 1812, Colrain became the first town in the United States to fly the U.S. flag over a public schoolhouse.
The Colrain town center was declared a historic district in 2006, its layout largely unchanged for about 150 years.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Colrain
The Green River forms Colrain's eastern border and the North River's branches meet in town, with Catamount and H.O. Cook State Forests providing hill terrain for hiking near the Vermont line.
- Green RiverForms Colrain's eastern border, used for fishing and swimming holes.
- North RiverIts branches meet in Colrain and flow toward the Deerfield River.
- Catamount State ForestState forest land with trails in Colrain.
Walkability and getting around Colrain
Colrain's town center has sidewalks near Town Hall and the historic district, but the town is large and rural, spread across hills and river valleys, and a car is needed for most errands.
Drive times
- Greenfield, about 9 miles15-20 min
- Bradley International Airport, about 55 miles65-75 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Colrain has no fixed-route public transit or train station of its own; the nearest Amtrak service is at the Greenfield station, about 15-20 minutes away.
Colrain property taxes
Colrain's FY2026 residential tax rate is $17.82 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,782 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,791, on an average assessed value of $268,881.
Colrain's FY2026 tax rates
$17.82per $1,000, residential
- Residential$17.82 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$268,881
- Average single-family tax bill$4,791
- 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 | $20.48 |
| FY2023 | $19.63 |
| FY2024 | $18.98 |
| FY2025 | $18.26 |
| FY2026 | $17.82 |
Look up a Colrain 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 Colrain
What we check on a Colrain purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, no curbside trash, rural utilities.
Check the flood zone first
The Green River forms Colrain's eastern border and the North River's branches run through town; low-lying parcels along these rivers fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for ColrainSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Colrain Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 413-624-5528 to schedule.
Colrain Fire Department pageBudget for the transfer station
Colrain has no curbside trash pickup; residents haul trash to the town transfer station and buy bag stickers, which is worth factoring into moving plans.
Confirm well, septic and gas service
Colrain is a large, rural Franklin County town; buyers should confirm whether a specific property relies on a private well and septic system, and whether natural gas service reaches it, 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 Colrain?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Colrain address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Colrain: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Colrain: Eversource; Colrain also runs a Community Choice Power Supply Program (municipal aggregation) with Dynegy Energy Services as supplier while Eversource continues to deliver electricity and handle billing. for power.
- ElectricEversource; Colrain also runs a Community Choice Power Supply Program (municipal aggregation) with Dynegy Energy Services as supplier while Eversource continues to deliver electricity and handle billing.
- Trash and recyclingColrain has no curbside trash pickup. Residents bring bagged trash to the town transfer station and buy bag stickers; non-residents pay an access fee.
- 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
Colrain Transfer Station
Year-round Saturdays, 8:00 am-4:00 pm; summer (first Tuesday in May through first Tuesday in October) Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm
Large bag stickers $2.00 each; contractor-size bags (34-55 gallon) $4.00 each; non-residents pay a $5.00 access fee
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Colrain Town Hall is at 55 Main Road, Colrain, MA 01340. Main line: 413-624-3454.
- Town HallMain line and website413-624-3454
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and voter registration
- Assessors' OfficeProperty values and assessments
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and collection
- Board of HealthSeptic (Title 5), wells and public health413-624-3454 ext. 5
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections
- Planning BoardLand use and zoning
- Fire DepartmentFire suppression; smoke/CO certificates413-624-5528
- Griswold Memorial LibraryPublic library
Colrain, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Colrain, MA?
Colrain's FY2026 residential tax rate is $17.82 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 Colrain?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $7,128 a year at $17.82 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Colrain have a split tax rate?
No. Colrain uses a single rate of $17.82 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Colrain?
The average single-family tax bill in Colrain was $4,791 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $268,881.
What county is Colrain, MA in?
Colrain is in Franklin County.
What ZIP code does Colrain use?
Colrain uses a single ZIP code, 01340, for the whole town.
Is there curbside trash pickup in Colrain?
No. Residents bring bagged trash to the town transfer station and buy bag stickers.
Who supplies electricity in Colrain?
Eversource delivers electricity in Colrain. The town also runs a Community Choice Power Supply Program that competitively bids the power supply.
How far is Colrain from Greenfield?
Colrain is about 9 miles from Greenfield, roughly a 15-20 minute drive.
Which towns border Colrain?
Colrain borders Heath, Charlemont, Shelburne, Greenfield and Leyden in Massachusetts, and Halifax and Guilford, Vermont.
Towns near Colrain
Neighbors of Colrain, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Colrain, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Colrain, MA official website: colrain-ma.gov
- Fire Department - Town of Colrain: colrain-ma.gov
- Board of Health - Town of Colrain: colrain-ma.gov
- Highway and Transfer Station - Town of Colrain: colrain-ma.gov
- Colrain Community Choice Power Supply Program: colrain-ma.gov
- Colrain-Green River 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: ToddC4176, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.