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The Hampden Town House, a town landmark building in Hampden, Massachusetts.

Living in Hampden, Massachusetts

Hampden is a small town in Hampden County, at the eastern edge of the Connecticut River Valley, about 11 miles southeast of Springfield. It was set off from Wilbraham and incorporated in 1878. The town has no large lakes or state highways running through it; its terrain rises toward Pine Mountain and Rattlesnake Peak, both about 1,070 feet, near the Monson line.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0

Hampden at a glance

Hampden's zip code

Hampden uses a single ZIP code, 01036, for the whole town.

Hampden villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Hampden center01036Along Main Street and Somers Road near Town Hall.

Things to do in Hampden, MA

Start with Hampden Public Library and Pine Mountain and Rattlesnake Peak, then 2 more below.

  1. Hampden Public Library

    The town's public library, which opened in 1891. It hosts regular programs and sits near Town Hall in the town center.

    FreeYear-round

    625 Main St, Hampden, MA

    Plan a visit

  2. Pine Mountain and Rattlesnake Peak

    The town's two highest points, both roughly 1,070 feet, near the Monson line. They are the high ground behind the town's local lore of the 1761 'Rattlesnake Incident.'

    FreeYear-round

    Near the Monson town line

  3. Minnechaug Regional High School grounds

    The regional high school, shared with Wilbraham, opened in 1959 and serves both towns through the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.

    Year-round

    621 Main St, Wilbraham, MA

    Plan a visit

  4. Memorial Park

    A town park with a playground, spray park, restrooms and rentable pavilions, run by the Parks and Recreation Commission.

    Seasonal

    85 Wilbraham Road area, Hampden, MA

    Plan a visit

A little history

The area now called Hampden was settled by Europeans in 1741 as part of Wilbraham, and it was incorporated as its own town in 1878.

Hurricane Diane brought heavy flooding to the region in August 1955.

H.P. Lovecraft's travels through the area are said to have influenced his 1928 story 'The Dunwich Horror.'

Parks, trails and outdoors in Hampden

Hampden has no large lakes, but its brooks drain toward the Connecticut River and its high ground toward Monson gives the town its hills and wooded terrain.

  • Pine MountainOne of Hampden's two roughly 1,070-foot high points, near the Monson town line.
  • Rattlesnake PeakThe town's other high point at about 1,070 feet, near Pine Mountain.
  • Town brooksSeveral brooks cross Hampden and eventually drain into the Connecticut River; the town has no large ponds or lakes.

Where to eat in Hampden: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Hampden to try, including italian restaurant and pizzeria and italian restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Hampden

Hampden center around Town Hall and the library has some sidewalk connections, but the town has no numbered state highway running through it and most of Hampden is built for driving between the town center and outlying roads.

Hampden center

85 Wilbraham Road, Hampden, MA 01036

Check any Hampden address

Drive times

  • Springfield, about 11 miles20-25 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 28 miles35-40 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Hampden has no fixed-route public bus service and no train station; the nearest Amtrak and regional bus connections are in Springfield, about 20-25 minutes away by car.

Hampden property taxes

Hampden's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,578 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,963, on an average assessed value of $441,271.

Hampden's FY2026 tax rates

$15.78per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$15.78 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$441,271
  • Average single-family tax bill$6,963
  • Tax billsQuarterly: August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1
  • 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.

Hampden property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (100%)
–
Taxes a year
–
About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$18.72
FY2023$16.87
FY2024$15.66
FY2025$15.09
FY2026$15.78

Look up a Hampden property

Buying a home in Hampden

What we check on a Hampden purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, well & septic, smoke/co certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Hampden County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Hampden has no large lakes, but its brooks feed toward the Connecticut River watershed; check FEMA flood maps for any specific parcel near a brook or low-lying area. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Hampden
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Hampden Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 413-566-3314 to schedule.

Hampden Fire Department page
Foundations

Ask about foundation testing

The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Hampden among the towns most at risk from pyrrhotite, a mineral linked to crumbling concrete foundations, based on distance from the Connecticut quarry that supplied the concrete. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.

UMass pyrrhotite guide
Well & septic

Most homes use private wells and septic systems

Hampden has no confirmed town-wide public water or sewer system; most properties rely on private wells and septic systems. A Title 5 septic inspection, arranged through the Board of Health, is required before a home with a septic system is sold.

Board of Health
Smoke/CO certificate

Fire department inspection required before closing

Massachusetts law requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspection and certificate from the local fire department before a home sale closes. In Hampden, this is scheduled through the Fire Department.

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.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Hampden?

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

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

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Hampden: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Hampden: Eversource for power.

Hampden Transfer Station

18 Cross Road, Hampden, MA 01036 Tuesdays 12:00-4:00 PM, Saturdays 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (hours may vary on holidays)

Annual permit required, plus town-designated trash bags; permits expire June 30 each year

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Hampden Town Hall is at 85 Wilbraham Road, Hampden, MA 01036. Main line: 413-566-2151.

Hampden, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Hampden, MA?

Hampden's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.78 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 Hampden?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,312 a year at $15.78 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Hampden have a split tax rate?

No. Hampden uses a single rate of $15.78 per $1,000 for all property classes.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Hampden was $6,963 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $441,271.

What county is Hampden, MA in?

Hampden is in Hampden County. The town and the county share the same name but are not the same thing.

What ZIP code does Hampden use?

Hampden uses a single ZIP code, 01036, for the whole town.

Does Hampden have curbside trash pickup?

No. Hampden residents use the town transfer station on Cross Road with an annual permit and town-designated trash bags rather than curbside collection.

Who supplies electricity in Hampden?

Eversource is the electric utility serving Hampden.

How far is Hampden from Springfield?

Hampden is about 11 miles southeast of Springfield, roughly a 20-25 minute drive.

Towns near Hampden

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

Sources