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 Douglas, Massachusetts
Douglas is a town in the far southern corner of Worcester County, on the Connecticut and Rhode Island lines. It was first settled around 1715 and incorporated in 1746, taking its name from Dr. William Douglass, a Boston physician who put up money for the town's free schools. Douglas State Forest covers a large share of the town's southern half, including Wallum Lake and the point where Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island meet.
Douglas at a glance
- $12.07Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,298Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- WorcesterCounty
- 1746Year incorporated
Douglas's villages and zip codes
Douglas uses a single ZIP code, 01516, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| East Douglas | 01516 | The town's village center along Depot and Main streets, where the Municipal Center is located. |
| Tasseltop | 01516 | A residential section of town near Wallum Lake and Douglas State Forest. |
Things to do in Douglas, MA
Start with Douglas State Forest and Wallum Lake, then 2 more below.
Douglas State Forest
A 5,525-acre state forest managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, with trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. A short side trail leads to the tri-state marker where Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island meet.
Douglas, MA
Wallum Lake
A lake inside Douglas State Forest used for swimming, fishing and non-motorized and electric boating, with a rare Atlantic white cedar swamp along its shore.
Douglas State Forest, Douglas, MA
Midstate Trail
A 7.8-mile section of the 92-mile Midstate Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that runs north-south across Massachusetts, passes through Douglas State Forest.
Douglas State Forest, Douglas, MA
Southern New England Trunkline Trail
A rail-trail corridor that runs through Douglas as part of a longer multi-town route on a former railroad bed.
Douglas, MA
A little history
Douglas was first settled around 1715 and was incorporated as its own town in 1746, taking its name from Dr. William Douglass, a Boston physician who contributed funds toward the town's free schools.
The town's early economy centered on woolen mills along the Mumford River and on Douglas axe manufacturing.
In 1946, Douglas hosted an exhibition baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Douglas
Douglas State Forest covers much of the town's southern half, giving Douglas swimming and boating at Wallum Lake, wooded trails for hiking and horseback riding, and a rail-trail corridor.
- Douglas State Forest5,525 acres of trails, a swimming and boating lake, and a rare Atlantic white cedar swamp, managed by the state DCR.
- Wallum LakeSwimming, fishing and boating within the state forest.
- Midstate TrailA 7.8-mile segment of the statewide Midstate Trail runs through the forest.
- Southern New England Trunkline TrailA rail-trail route through town for walking and biking.
Walkability and getting around Douglas
East Douglas has sidewalks along Main and Depot streets connecting the village center, but most of Douglas, including the roads around Douglas State Forest and its lakes, is built for driving.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 20 miles
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Douglas has no confirmed fixed-route public transit and no train station; Worcester, about 20 miles north, is the nearest hub for regional bus and rail service.
Douglas property taxes
Douglas's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.07 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,207 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,298, on an average assessed value of $521,818.
Douglas's FY2026 tax rates
$12.07per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.07 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$521,818
- Average single-family tax bill$6,298
- 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 | $16.34 |
| FY2023 | $14.36 |
| FY2024 | $13.52 |
| FY2025 | $13.17 |
| FY2026 | $12.07 |
Look up a Douglas property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Douglas
What we check on a Douglas purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, lake & river flood zones.
Check the flood zone first
The Mumford River and the shorelines of Wallum Lake and Whitins Reservoir put some low-lying parcels in Douglas within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for DouglasSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Douglas Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-476-2267 to schedule.
Outside the village center, expect wells and septic
Much of Douglas outside East Douglas village relies on private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on a septic system can be sold, so buyers should build that into their timeline.
Check FEMA flood maps near Wallum Lake and the Mumford River
Parts of Douglas along the Mumford River and around Wallum Lake and Whitins Reservoir fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the water.
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 Douglas?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Douglas address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Douglas: utilities, trash and municipal center
Who to call in Douglas: National Grid, with a town-run electricity aggregation program (Douglas Community Electricity) offering an alternative supply option for power.
- ElectricNational Grid, with a town-run electricity aggregation program (Douglas Community Electricity) offering an alternative supply option
- WaterDouglas Water/Sewer Department
- Sewer or septicDouglas Water/Sewer Department serves parts of town; outlying parcels rely on private wells and septic systems
- Trash and recyclingDouglas runs a Transfer Station for residents with a permit; the town also licenses private trash haulers for curbside pickup for residents who choose that option.
- 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
Douglas Transfer Station
Douglas, MA
Transfer station detailsMunicipal Center offices and contacts
Douglas Municipal Center is at 29 Depot St, Douglas, MA 01516. Main line: 508-476-4000.
- Municipal CenterMain line and website508-476-4000
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.508-476-4000, ext. 255
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.508-476-4000, ext. 253
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.508-476-4000, ext. 219
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.508-476-4000, ext. 251
- Planning BoardZoning and land-use applications.508-476-4000, ext. 257
- Highway DepartmentRoads and town infrastructure.508-476-3378
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO certificates for home sales.508-476-2267
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, wells and public health permits.508-476-4000, ext. 252
- Water/Sewer DepartmentPublic water and sewer billing and service.508-476-2400
- Douglas Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.508-476-7901
Douglas, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Douglas, MA?
Douglas's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.07 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 Douglas?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,828 a year at $12.07 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Douglas have a split tax rate?
No. Douglas uses a single rate of $12.07 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Douglas?
The average single-family tax bill in Douglas was $6,298 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $521,818.
What county is Douglas, MA in?
Douglas is in Worcester County.
What ZIP code does Douglas use?
Douglas uses a single ZIP code, 01516, for the whole town.
Does Douglas have curbside trash pickup?
The town runs a Transfer Station for residents with a permit, and also licenses private haulers for curbside pickup.
Who supplies electricity in Douglas?
National Grid delivers electricity; the town also runs an electricity aggregation program, Douglas Community Electricity, as an alternative supply option.
How far is Douglas from Worcester?
Douglas is about 20 miles from Worcester.
What is Douglas State Forest known for?
A 5,525-acre state forest with Wallum Lake for swimming and boating, a section of the Midstate Trail, and a marker where Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island meet.
Towns near Douglas
Neighbors of Douglas, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Douglas, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Douglas State Forest - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Douglas, MA - Official Website: douglas-ma.gov
- Staff Directory - Douglas, MA: douglas-ma.gov
- Douglas Electricity Aggregation Program - Douglas, MA: douglas-ma.gov
- Trash & Recycling - Douglas, MA: douglas-ma.gov
- Second Congregational Church, Douglas 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: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.