Harvard center
13 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA 01451
Living in Harvard, Massachusetts
Harvard is a town in Worcester County, about 25 miles west-northwest of Boston near where Route 2 and I-495 meet. It was settled in 1658 on land purchased from the Nashaway sachems Sholan and Tahanto, and incorporated in 1732. The town includes the village of Still River, Bare Hill Pond, and part of the former Fort Devens army base.
Harvard at a glance
- $15.87Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $14,562Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 45-55 minDrive to Boston
- WorcesterCounty
Harvard's villages and zip codes
Most of Harvard uses ZIP code 01451; the Devens section uses 01434.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard center | 01451 | The town's main village along Ayer Road (Route 110), where Town Hall and the library are located. |
| Still River | 01451 | A village in the western part of town, historically home to a Shaker community that operated from 1791 to 1917. |
| Devens | 01434 | The Harvard portion of the former Fort Devens Army base, shared with Ayer and Shirley. |
Things to do in Harvard, MA
Start with Fruitlands Museum and Bare Hill Pond, then 1 more below.
Fruitlands Museum
A museum on the site of Amos Bronson Alcott's 1843 experimental farm, with a relocated 1790s Shaker building that was the first Shaker museum established in the United States, plus Native American and Hudson River School art collections and hiking trails over the property's hills.
102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, MA 01451
Plan a visitBare Hill Pond
A 320-acre lake with a town beach, dock and several small islands, used for swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating in season.
Willard Road, Harvard, MA
Harvard Public Library
The town's public library, in a building that opened in 1856 and is depicted on the town seal.
Harvard, MA 01451
A little history
Harvard was settled in 1658 on land purchased from the Nashaway sachems Sholan and his nephew George Tahanto, and was incorporated as a town in 1732.
Still River was home to the first Shaker settlement in Massachusetts and the second in the United States, which peaked at about 200 residents in the 1850s before the community closed and sold its property in 1917.
Amos Bronson Alcott's utopian farm Fruitlands operated on a hilltop in Harvard for only seven months, closing in January 1844; his daughter Louisa May Alcott later drew on the experience for her novel Little Women.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Harvard
Harvard's rolling hills, Bare Hill Pond and conservation land around Fruitlands give the town its trails and water access.
- Bare Hill PondA 320-acre lake with a town beach and dock for swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating.
- Fruitlands Museum trailsHiking trails over the hilltop property once farmed by the Alcott family's Fruitlands community.More information
- Oak Hill / Harvard conservation landTown and land-trust conservation parcels with trails through Harvard's hills and wetlands.
Walkability and getting around Harvard
Harvard center has limited sidewalks around Town Hall and the library, and most of the town, including Still River and the rural roads between them, is built for driving.
Drive times
- Boston, about 25 miles45-55 min
- Fitchburg Municipal Airport, about 15 miles25-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Harvard has no fixed-route bus service and no passenger rail station in town; the nearest MBTA Commuter Rail stations are in Ayer and Littleton on the Fitchburg Line. Harvard has no curbside trash collection; residents use the town transfer station.
Harvard property taxes
Harvard's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.87 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $15.85. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,587 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $14,562, on an average assessed value of $917,594.
Harvard's FY2026 tax rates
$15.87per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.87 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$15.85 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$917,594
- Average single-family tax bill$14,562
- 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 | $17.91 |
| FY2023 | $16.61 |
| FY2024 | $14.90 |
| FY2025 | $15.65 |
| FY2026 | $15.87 |
Look up a Harvard property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 978-456-4100 ext. 315
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Harvard
What we check on a Harvard purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, wells & septic, smoke certificate, no curbside trash.
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 loansCheck the flood zone first
Bare Hill Pond and the streams and wetlands that cross Harvard's hilly terrain put some low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for HarvardSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Harvard Fire Department before the sale closes.
Most homes rely on private well and septic
Outside Devens, most homes in Harvard use private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before most home sales, arranged through the Board of Health.
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. In Harvard, that inspection is scheduled through the Fire Department.
Trash goes to the town transfer station
Harvard has no curbside trash pickup; residents haul their own trash and recycling to the town transfer station, which requires a permit.
Learn moreAll 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 Harvard?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Harvard address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Harvard: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Harvard.
- WaterPublic water in parts of Devens; most of the rest of town relies on private wells
- Sewer or septicMost of the town relies on private septic systems; Devens has its own sewer infrastructure
- Trash and recyclingHarvard does not offer curbside trash collection; residents bring waste and recycling to the town transfer station.
- 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
Harvard Town Hall is at 13 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA 01451. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM. Main line: 978-456-4100.
- Town HallMain line and website978-456-4100
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and town meeting records.978-456-4100 ext. 316
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.978-456-4100 ext. 315
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.978-456-4100 ext. 318
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.978-456-4100 ext. 425
- Board of HealthSeptic (Title 5) and well permitting.978-456-4100 ext. 428
- Fire DepartmentFire, rescue and smoke/CO certificate inspections for home sales.978-391-5953
- Planning & Community DevelopmentZoning, land use, and planning applications.978-456-4100 ext. 423
- Parks & RecreationTown recreation programs and facilities, including Bare Hill Pond.978-456-4100 ext. 601
- Public Works / Water DepartmentRoads, town facilities and public water infrastructure.978-456-4130
- Harvard Public LibraryThe town's public library.978-456-4114
- Harvard Public SchoolsThe town's public school district, including Hildreth Elementary and The Bromfield School.
Harvard, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Harvard, MA?
Harvard's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.87 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $15.85. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Harvard?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,348 a year at $15.87 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Harvard have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $15.87 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $15.85.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Harvard?
The average single-family tax bill in Harvard was $14,562 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $917,594.
What county is Harvard, MA in?
Harvard is in Worcester County.
Is trash pickup curbside in Harvard?
No. Harvard has no curbside collection; residents bring trash and recycling to the town transfer station.
What ZIP codes does Harvard use?
Most of Harvard uses ZIP code 01451; the Devens section uses 01434.
How far is Harvard from Boston?
Harvard is about 25 miles from Boston, roughly a 45-55 minute drive.
Is there train service near Harvard?
Harvard has no train station in town; the nearest MBTA Commuter Rail stations on the Fitchburg Line are in Ayer and Littleton.
Which towns border Harvard?
Harvard borders Shirley, Ayer, Littleton, Boxborough, Stow, Bolton and Lancaster.
Towns near Harvard
Neighbors of Harvard, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Harvard, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Harvard, MA - official website: harvard-ma.gov
- Harvard, MA staff directory: harvard-ma.gov
- Transfer Station - Town of Harvard, MA: harvard-ma.gov
- Fruitlands Museum - The Trustees of Reservations: thetrustees.org
- Harvard Public Library 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: Emily Cotter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.