Hamilton center
577 Bay Road, Hamilton, MA 01936
Living in Hamilton, Massachusetts
Hamilton is a town in Essex County about 23 miles northeast of Boston and 8 miles north of Salem, incorporated in 1793 and named for Alexander Hamilton. Settled in 1638 as part of Ipswich, it has a strong equestrian heritage centered on the Myopia Hunt Club and no industrially-zoned land.
Hamilton at a glance
- $15.04Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $13,093Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-20 minDrive to Salem
- EssexCounty
Hamilton's villages and zip codes
Hamilton uses ZIP code 01936; the South Hamilton village uses 01982.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton center | 01936 | The town center along Bay Road, with Town Hall. |
| South Hamilton | 01982 | A village around the Hamilton/Wenham commuter rail station, with shops along Railroad Avenue and Bay Road. |
Things to do in Hamilton, MA
Start with Bradley Palmer State Park and Myopia Hunt Club, then 2 more below.
Bradley Palmer State Park
A state park with wooded trails, bridle paths and the Ipswich River, shared with neighboring Topsfield and Ipswich.
Asbury Street, Hamilton, MA
Myopia Hunt Club
A private equestrian and golf club that hosted the U.S. Open in 1898, 1901, 1905 and 1908, and remains a center of the town's horse-country character.
Hamilton, MA
Patton Park
A town park named for General George S. Patton, who lived in Hamilton.
Hamilton, MA
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
A Mass Audubon sanctuary along the Ipswich River with trails through fields, forest and wetlands, reaching into Hamilton, Topsfield and Wenham.
Perkins Row, Topsfield/Hamilton, MA
More worth a visit
- Asbury GroveA Methodist camp-meeting community established in 1859, with a historic cluster of small cottages.
A little history
The area was settled in 1638 as part of Ipswich and known as 'The Hamlet' before Hamilton was incorporated as its own town on June 21, 1793, named for Alexander Hamilton.
The Boston and Maine Railroad reached Hamilton in 1839, and the Myopia Hunt Club later hosted the U.S. Open golf championship four times between 1898 and 1908.
In 2021, Hamilton became the first town in Massachusetts to mandate curbside composting of organic waste town-wide.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Hamilton
Hamilton's outdoor recreation runs from the Ipswich River and Bradley Palmer State Park on its western side to Chebacco Lake to the east, with horse farms and bridle paths throughout the town.
- Ipswich RiverRuns along the western side of Hamilton, bordering Bradley Palmer State Park.
- Bradley Palmer State ParkA state park with trails and bridle paths shared with Topsfield and Ipswich.
- Chebacco LakeA lake on Hamilton's eastern border with Essex.
- Blueberry HillThe town's highest point, at more than 215 feet.
Walkability and getting around Hamilton
South Hamilton village, around the commuter rail station, has sidewalks connecting a small cluster of shops and restaurants; most of the rest of town is rural and residential and requires a car.
Drive times
- Salem, about 8 miles15-20 min
- Logan International Airport, about 25 miles40-50 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
MBTA Commuter Rail serves Hamilton/Wenham station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, with service to Boston's North Station. The nearest general-aviation airport is Beverly Municipal Airport; Route 128 is accessible in Beverly.
Hamilton property taxes
Hamilton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.04 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,504 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $13,093, on an average assessed value of $870,526.
Hamilton's FY2026 tax rates
$15.04per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.04 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$870,526
- Average single-family tax bill$13,093
- 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 | $17.88 |
| FY2023 | $16.34 |
| FY2024 | $15.11 |
| FY2025 | $15.65 |
| FY2026 | $15.04 |
Look up a Hamilton property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Hamilton
What we check on a Hamilton purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, wells and septic, smoke & co certificate, mandatory composting.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Essex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
The Ipswich River runs along Hamilton's western side near Bradley Palmer State Park, and Chebacco Lake borders the town to the east; low-lying land near these waters falls within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for HamiltonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Hamilton Fire Department before the sale closes.
Parts of Hamilton rely on private wells and septic
Outside the areas served by the Hamilton-Wenham water system, some properties rely on private wells, and Title 5 septic inspections are typically required before a home sale closes.
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 home sale can close. Contact the Hamilton Fire Department to schedule the inspection.
Curbside composting is mandatory town-wide
Hamilton requires curbside organic waste collection alongside trash and recycling; new residents should set up compost bin service with the town's hauler, Casella, or apply for a backyard-composting exemption.
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 Hamilton?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Hamilton address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Hamilton: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Hamilton: National Grid delivers electricity in Hamilton; the town also runs Hamilton Community Choice Aggregation, a municipal program that sets the electricity supply source while National Grid continues to deliver power and bill customers. for power.
- ElectricNational Grid delivers electricity in Hamilton; the town also runs Hamilton Community Choice Aggregation, a municipal program that sets the electricity supply source while National Grid continues to deliver power and bill customers.
- Natural gasNational Grid
- WaterPublic water through the Hamilton-Wenham water system in parts of town; some areas rely on private wells
- Trash and recyclingHamilton offers curbside trash, recycling and organic waste (composting) collection through hauler Casella. Hamilton was the first town in Massachusetts to make curbside composting mandatory town-wide; residents who already compost at home may apply for an exemption 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
Town Hall offices and contacts
Hamilton Town Hall is at 577 Bay Road, Hamilton, MA 01936. Hours: Monday 8 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday 8 am-6:30 pm, Wednesday-Thursday 8 am-4:30 pm, Friday 8 am-12:30 pm. Main line: 978-468-5570.
- Town HallMain line and website978-468-5570
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, elections and licensing.
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.
- Department of Public WorksRoads, trash, recycling and composting collection.978-626-5227
- Water DepartmentPublic water service.978-626-5226
- Planning BoardZoning, subdivisions and land-use applications.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, well regulations and health permits.
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention, suppression and inspections, including smoke/CO certificates.
- Hamilton-Wenham Public LibraryThe public library serving Hamilton and Wenham.
- Hamilton-Wenham Regional School DistrictThe regional school district serving Hamilton and Wenham.
Hamilton, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Hamilton, MA?
Hamilton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.04 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 Hamilton?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,016 a year at $15.04 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Hamilton have a split tax rate?
No. Hamilton uses a single rate of $15.04 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Hamilton?
The average single-family tax bill in Hamilton was $13,093 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $870,526.
What ZIP codes does Hamilton use?
Hamilton center uses 01936; the South Hamilton village around the train station uses 01982.
Is trash pickup curbside or transfer station in Hamilton?
Curbside. Hamilton also mandates curbside composting of organic waste, the first town in Massachusetts to do so.
Who supplies electricity in Hamilton?
National Grid delivers electricity; the town also runs a Community Choice Aggregation program that sets the electricity supply source.
How far is Hamilton from Salem?
Hamilton is about 8 miles from Salem, roughly a 15-to-20-minute drive.
Is there public transit in Hamilton?
MBTA Commuter Rail serves Hamilton/Wenham station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, with service to Boston's North Station.
Towns near Hamilton
Neighbors of Hamilton, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Hamilton, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Hamilton, MA official website: hamiltonma.gov
- Community Electricity Program - Town of Hamilton, MA: hamiltonma.gov
- Trash, Organics, Recycling and Yard Waste Disposal Information - Town of Hamilton, MA: hamiltonma.gov
- 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: Fletcher6, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.