The William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, Massachusetts.

Living in Cummington, Massachusetts

Cummington is a hill town in northwestern Hampshire County, at 1,519 feet elevation, where Massachusetts Route 9 follows the Westfield River through town. It was first settled in 1762 and incorporated in 1779, named for Colonel John Cumings, an original landholder. Poet William Cullen Bryant was born in Cummington and later returned to summer at his family homestead, now a historic site open to the public.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Photo: Daderot, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cummington at a glance

$12.49Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$4,575Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
45-55 minDrive to Pittsfield
HampshireCounty

Cummington's zip code

Cummington uses ZIP code 01026.

Cummington villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Cummington center	01026	Along Route 9, where the Town Hall at 33 Main Street is located.

Things to do in Cummington, MA

Start with William Cullen Bryant Homestead and Old Creamery Co-op, then 1 more below.

William Cullen Bryant Homestead
A 155-acre National Historic Landmark overlooking the Westfield River Valley, the boyhood home and later summer residence of poet William Cullen Bryant. The Trustees of Reservations manages the property, which includes a visitor center, barn, picnic areas and about 2.5 miles of trails. Open weekends in summer and early fall for tours, with an admission fee.
Seasonal
205 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA
Old Creamery Co-op
A community food cooperative and cafe selling groceries, prepared meals and local producer goods.
Year-round
445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA 01026
Plan a visit
Cummington Fair
An annual agricultural fair held each August with exhibitions and midway attractions.
Seasonal
Cummington Fairgrounds, Cummington, MA

Around the calendar

August
Cummington FairAn annual agricultural fair with exhibitions and midway attractions.

A little history

Cummington was first settled in 1762 and officially incorporated in 1779, named after Colonel John Cumings, the original landholder.

Poet William Cullen Bryant was born in Cummington in 1794 and later returned for many years to summer at his family homestead, now managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

The mineral cummingtonite was first found in the town and named for it.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Cummington

The Westfield River runs through Cummington alongside Route 9, and the Bryant Homestead's trails give the town its main hiking access.

William Cullen Bryant Homestead trailsAbout 2.5 miles of trails on the Bryant family's former farmland overlooking the Westfield River Valley.
Westfield RiverThe river runs through town alongside Route 9, part of a federally designated Wild and Scenic River corridor.

Where to eat in Cummington: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Cummington to try, including food co-op, market and cafe. No one paid to be listed.

Old Creamery Co-op
Food co-op, market and cafe
A cooperative grocery and cafe selling wholesome foods, everyday goods, prepared meals and local producer items.
445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA 01026 · oldcreamery.coop

Walkability and getting around Cummington

Cummington's small center along Route 9 has the Old Creamery Co-op, Town Hall and library within walking distance of each other, but the rest of the hill town is rural and built for driving.

Drive times

Pittsfield, about 28 miles45-55 min
Bradley International Airport, about 55 miles70-80 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Cummington has no fixed-route PVTA bus service and no passenger rail station. Pittsfield, the nearest city with regional service, is about 28 miles west.

Cummington property taxes

Cummington's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.49 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,249 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,575, on an average assessed value of $366,331.

Cummington's FY2026 tax rates

$12.49per $1,000, residential

Residential$12.49 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$366,331
Average single-family tax bill$4,575
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	$14.45
FY2023	$14.06
FY2024	$13.50
FY2025	$12.76
FY2026	$12.49

Look up a Cummington property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 413-634-5354
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Cummington

What we check on a Cummington purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, smoke certificate.

MassHousing

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

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Westfield River runs through Cummington alongside Route 9, putting low-lying parcels near the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Cummington

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Cummington Fire Department before the sale closes.

Well & septic

Most homes outside the center use private wells and septic

Cummington has town Water Commissioners overseeing water service in parts of the center, but outlying homes typically rely on private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before most home sales.

Smoke certificate

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.

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 Cummington?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Cummington address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Cummington: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Cummington.

Natural gasNo natural gas service
WaterThe town has Water Commissioners overseeing water service in parts of the center; outlying areas rely on private wells.
Sewer or septicMost of the town relies on private septic systems.
Trash and recyclingCummington residents use the town Transfer Station for trash and recycling disposal.
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

Cummington Town Hall is at 33 Main Street, Cummington, MA 01026. Main line: 413-634-5354.

Cummington, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Cummington, MA?

Cummington's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.49 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 Cummington?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,996 a year at $12.49 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Cummington have a split tax rate?

No. Cummington uses a single rate of $12.49 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Cummington?

The average single-family tax bill in Cummington was $4,575 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $366,331.

Is trash pickup curbside in Cummington?

Cummington residents bring trash and recycling to the town Transfer Station rather than curbside pickup.

Who supplies electricity in Cummington?

Eversource is the electric utility serving Cummington.

What ZIP code does Cummington use?

Cummington uses ZIP code 01026.

How far is Cummington from Pittsfield?

Cummington is about 28 miles from Pittsfield, roughly a 45-55 minute drive.

Which towns border Cummington?

Cummington borders Peru and Windsor in Berkshire County, and Plainfield, Ashfield, Goshen, Chesterfield and Worthington, all within Hampshire or Franklin County, Massachusetts.

Is the William Cullen Bryant Homestead open to the public?

Yes. The Trustees of Reservations open the Bryant Homestead for tours on weekends in summer and early fall, with an admission fee.

Towns near Cummington

Neighbors of Cummington, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Cummington, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Cummington, MA - official website: cummington-ma.gov
William Cullen Bryant Homestead - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Old Creamery Co-op: oldcreamery.coop
Worthington, Massachusetts - Wikipedia (bordering towns): en.wikipedia.org
William Cullen Bryant Homestead 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: Daderot, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.