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The Codman House, a historic estate house in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Living in Lincoln, Massachusetts

Lincoln is a town in Middlesex County in the MetroWest area west of Boston, formed in 1754 from pieces of Concord, Lexington and Weston (a history that once earned it the nickname "Niptown"). It has no traditional commercial center; most of its land is residential, conservation land, or occupied by cultural institutions like Drumlin Farm and the deCordova Sculpture Park. Paul Revere was captured by British soldiers on the North Great Road in Lincoln on April 18, 1775.

Lincoln centerSouth Lincoln

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Daderot, CC BY-SA 3.0

Lincoln at a glance

Lincoln's villages and zip codes

The whole town uses ZIP code 01773.

Lincoln villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Lincoln center01773The town's civic core along Bedford, Lincoln, Old Lexington, Sandy Pond, Trapelo and Weston Roads, a National Register historic district with the Town Offices, First Parish Lincoln, Bemis Hall and the Lincoln Public Library.
South Lincoln01773The area around the MBTA Fitchburg Line station on South Great Road, with the DeCordova neighborhood and Lincoln Woods condominiums nearby.

Things to do in Lincoln, MA

Start with Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary and DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, then 3 more below.

  1. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

    A 291-acre working farm and Mass Audubon headquarters, established in 1956 on land bequeathed by Louise Ayer Hatheway. It has a farmyard with chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, cows and horses, a Wildlife Care Center, 4 miles of trails including a universally accessible Farmyard Loop, and a farm stand.

    FreeYear-round

    208 South Great Road (Route 117), Lincoln, MA

  2. DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

    A 30-acre outdoor sculpture park, the largest of its kind in New England, on the former estate of Julian de Cordova on the shore of Flint's Pond. It opened in 1950 and is now run by The Trustees of Reservations; the museum building has been under renovation since 2023 but the sculpture park remains open.

    Year-round

    51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA

  3. Gropius House

    The 1938 home Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius designed with Marcel Breuer, on a 5.5-acre lot, now a Historic New England museum with guided tours and Bauhaus-era furnishings.

    SeasonalTour required

    68 Baker Bridge Road, Lincoln, MA

  4. Codman Estate

    A historic house museum on the former Codman family estate, with period rooms and formal gardens, operated by Historic New England.

    SeasonalTour required

    34 Codman Road, Lincoln, MA

  5. Ponyhenge

    A roadside folk-art installation of roughly fifty toy rocking horses arranged in a pasture, begun in 2010 and periodically rearranged by anonymous contributors into circles, rows or racing formations.

    FreeYear-round

    Old Sudbury Road, Lincoln, MA

More worth a visit

  • Minute Man National Historical Park (Battle Road)The park's Battle Road unit runs through Lincoln along the route of the 1775 British retreat.

A little history

Lincoln was incorporated in 1754 from parts of Concord, Lexington and Weston, and was named for Lincolnshire, England rather than for a person, a rarity among American towns.

British soldiers captured Paul Revere on the North Great Road in Lincoln on April 18, 1775, the night of his ride to warn of the British advance.

The deCordova Sculpture Park was established in 1950 on the estate of Julian de Cordova, becoming the first New England institution focused on living regional artists.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Lincoln

Lincoln has a large share of protected conservation land, including Drumlin Farm, Mount Misery, and land along the Sudbury River, laced with trails maintained by the town and by Mass Audubon.

  • Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary4 miles of trails through farmland and woods, including a trail to the summit of a glacial drumlin.
  • Mount Misery Conservation LandTown conservation land along the Sudbury River with wooded walking trails.
  • Bay Circuit TrailThe regional long-distance trail passes through Lincoln's western woods, including the Drumlin Farm property.

Walkability and getting around Lincoln

Lincoln has no traditional downtown commercial strip; the historic core around the Town Offices and library has sidewalks but few businesses, and South Lincoln near the train station is the closest thing to a walkable node. Most of the town, including its large lots and conservation land, requires a car.

Lincoln center

16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

South Lincoln

Check any Lincoln address

Drive times

  • Boston, about 18 miles30-40 min
  • Logan International Airport, about 22 miles35-45 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line stops at Lincoln Station in South Lincoln, with service to Boston's North Station. The town has no fixed-route local bus service.

Lincoln property taxes

Lincoln's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.31 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.78. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,231 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $20,738, on an average assessed value of $1,684,669.

Lincoln's FY2026 tax rates

$12.31per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$12.31 per $1,000
  • Commercial, industrial, personal property$18.78 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$1,684,669
  • Average single-family tax bill$20,738
  • 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.

Lincoln property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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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$14.93
FY2023$13.92
FY2024$12.89
FY2025$12.81
FY2026$12.31

Look up a Lincoln property

Buying a home in Lincoln

What we check on a Lincoln purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, septic and wells, smoke & co certificate, no curbside trash.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

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

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Conservation land along the Sudbury River and Mount Misery, and low-lying parcels near Flint's Pond and Sandy Pond, fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Lincoln
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Lincoln Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-259-8111 to schedule.

Lincoln Fire Department page
Septic and wells

Most of Lincoln relies on private septic and well systems

The town has no townwide public sewer system, so a Title 5 septic inspection is typically required before a home sale closes. The Lincoln Board of Health administers the town's Title 5 program and publishes well regulations for private wells.

Lincoln Board of Health
Smoke & CO certificate

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 Lincoln Fire Department to schedule the inspection.

Lincoln Fire Department
No curbside trash

Trash goes to the transfer station, not the curb

Lincoln has no curbside trash pickup; residents haul household trash and recyclables to the town Transfer Station on Lewis Street with a resident sticker, open Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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 Lincoln?

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

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

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Lincoln: utilities, trash and town offices

Who to call in Lincoln: Eversource for power.

Lincoln Transfer Station

30 Lewis Street, Lincoln, MA Wednesday and Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (closed July 4, Christmas and New Year's)

Free resident sticker; the 2026-2028 sticker cycle required an application by August 31, 2026

Transfer station details

Town Offices offices and contacts

Lincoln Town Offices is at 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Main line: 781-259-2600.

Lincoln, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Lincoln, MA?

Lincoln's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.31 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.78. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Lincoln?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,924 a year at $12.31 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Lincoln have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $12.31 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $18.78.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Lincoln was $20,738 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,684,669.

Is trash pickup curbside or transfer station in Lincoln?

Lincoln has no curbside trash collection. Residents bring trash and recyclables to the town Transfer Station at 30 Lewis Street, open Wednesday and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a free resident sticker.

Who supplies electricity and gas in Lincoln?

Eversource provides both electric and natural gas service in Lincoln.

Is there a train station in Lincoln?

Yes. The MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line stops at Lincoln Station in the South Lincoln area, with service to Boston's North Station.

What ZIP code does Lincoln use?

The whole town uses ZIP code 01773.

How far is Lincoln from Boston?

Lincoln is about 18 miles from downtown Boston, roughly a 30-to-40-minute drive depending on traffic.

Does Lincoln have public water and sewer?

Most of Lincoln relies on private septic systems, and parts of town use private wells; there is no townwide public sewer system.

Towns near Lincoln

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

Sources