Hawley center
8 Pudding Hollow Rd, Hawley, MA 01339
Living in Hawley, Massachusetts
Hawley is a small hill town in southwestern Franklin County, settled in 1760 and incorporated in 1792 as Hatfield Reserve before being renamed for Revolutionary-era leader Joseph Hawley of Northampton. The Chickley River runs through town, which sits at an elevation of about 1,404 feet, and much of Hawley's land is state forest, including part of Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest and a corner of Mohawk Trail State Forest. Route 8A is the town's main road.
Hawley at a glance
- $16.20Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,648Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 30-35 minDrive to Greenfield
- FranklinCounty
Hawley's villages and zip codes
Hawley uses a single ZIP code, 01339, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Hawley center | 01339 | Around the Town Office on Pudding Hollow Road. |
| West Hawley | 01339 | A smaller settlement on the western side of town along the Chickley River, with the West Hawley Congregational Church. |
Things to do in Hawley, MA
Start with Hawley Bog and Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest, then 1 more below.
Hawley Bog
One of the few bogs in Massachusetts preserved in its natural state, a Nature Conservancy property with a boardwalk trail through a rare wetland habitat.
Hawley, MA
Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest
A state forest including Parker Hill, the highest peak in Hawley, with trails for hiking and hunting.
Hawley, MA
Stump Sprout Cross-Country Ski Area
A backcountry cross-country skiing and lodging property in Hawley, with groomed trails through forest terrain.
Hawley, MA
More worth a visit
- Berkshire East Ski AreaA downhill ski and zipline area that extends partly into Hawley from neighboring Charlemont.
A little history
Hawley was settled around 1760 and incorporated in 1792 under the name Hatfield Reserve before being renamed for Joseph Hawley, a Northampton lawyer and Revolutionary-era political leader.
Plainfield was set off from Hawley's original territory in the early 19th century.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Hawley
Hawley's outdoor recreation centers on its state forest land, the rare Hawley Bog, and cross-country ski trails through the hills near the Chickley River.
- Hawley BogA preserved natural bog with a boardwalk, one of few of its kind in the state.
- Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State ForestState forest land including Parker Hill, Hawley's highest point.
- Mohawk Trail State ForestA large state forest whose northwestern corner extends into Hawley.
Walkability and getting around Hawley
Hawley has no commercial center, sidewalks, or village store; it's an entirely rural town where a car is necessary to reach any services, which are based in neighboring Charlemont or Ashfield.
Drive times
- Greenfield, about 22 miles30-35 min
- Bradley International Airport
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Hawley has no fixed-route public transit, bus, rail, or air service. The nearest Amtrak service is in Pittsfield.
Hawley property taxes
Hawley's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.20 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,620 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,648, on an average assessed value of $286,904.
Hawley's FY2026 tax rates
$16.20per $1,000, residential
- Residential$16.20 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$286,904
- Average single-family tax bill$4,648
- 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 | $17.52 |
| FY2023 | $16.66 |
| FY2024 | $16.80 |
| FY2025 | $16.35 |
| FY2026 | $16.20 |
Look up a Hawley property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Hawley
What we check on a Hawley purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, no local services.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Franklin County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for HawleySmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Hawley Fire Department before the sale closes.
Every property is on a private well and septic system
Hawley has no public water or sewer system, so all homes use private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on septic can be sold, and we build that timeline into your preapproval.
Hawley has no store, library or post office of its own
Hawley has no police or fire station, store, library, or post office in town; residents rely on neighboring Charlemont and Ashfield for these services. Factor the drive time into day-to-day planning when considering a property here.
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 Hawley?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Hawley address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Hawley: utilities, trash and town office
Who to call in Hawley: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- Natural gasNo natural gas service
- WaterPrivate wells; Hawley has no public water system
- Sewer or septicNo town sewer system; properties use private septic systems
- Trash and recyclingHawley has no transfer station of its own. Residents buy an annual sticker from the Hawley Town Office to use the Ashfield Transfer Station, and can also use the Colrain or Greenfield transfer stations.
- 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 Office offices and contacts
Hawley Town Office is at 8 Pudding Hollow Rd, Hawley, MA 01339. Main line: 413-339-5518.
- Town OfficeMain line and website413-339-5518
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.413-339-5518
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.413-339-5518
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.413-339-5518
- Board of Health / Town NurseSeptic (Title 5) and well permitting; public health services.413-339-5518
- Planning BoardZoning and land-use applications.413-339-5518
- Conservation CommissionWetlands and conservation land review.413-339-5518
- Hawlemont Regional School DistrictThe town's public school district (Hawlemont Elementary in Charlemont, then Mohawk Trail Regional High School).
Hawley, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Hawley, MA?
Hawley's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.20 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 Hawley?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,480 a year at $16.20 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Hawley have a split tax rate?
No. Hawley uses a single rate of $16.20 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Hawley?
The average single-family tax bill in Hawley was $4,648 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $286,904.
What county is Hawley, MA in?
Hawley is in Franklin County, Massachusetts.
What ZIP code does Hawley use?
Hawley uses a single ZIP code, 01339, for the whole town.
Is there curbside trash pickup in Hawley?
No. Hawley has no transfer station of its own; residents buy an annual sticker to use the Ashfield Transfer Station.
Who supplies electricity in Hawley?
National Grid is the electric utility for Hawley.
How far is Hawley from Greenfield?
Hawley is about 22 miles from Greenfield, roughly a 30-35 minute drive.
Does Hawley have its own library or post office?
No. Hawley has no library or post office; residents use those in neighboring Charlemont.
Towns near Hawley
Neighbors of Hawley, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Hawley, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Hawley, MA - official website: townofhawley.com
- Town of Hawley - Trash & Recycling: townofhawley.com
- Massachusetts Electric Company (National Grid) service territory list: nationalgridus.com
- Hawley Town Hall 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: ToddC4176, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.