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Ned's Point Light, an 1838 stone lighthouse at the entrance to Mattapoisett Harbor.

Living in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts

Mattapoisett is a town in Plymouth County on Buzzards Bay, about 9 miles east of New Bedford and 60 miles south of Boston. Settled in 1750 and incorporated in 1857 after separating from Rochester, its name comes from a Wampanoag word for a place of resting. Shipyards along its harbor built roughly 400 vessels between the 1740s and 1870s, including the whaling ship Acushnet, on which Herman Melville once sailed; when the whaling industry declined, the town became a summer harbor community.

Mattapoisett centerCannonville / Ned's Point

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0

Mattapoisett at a glance

Mattapoisett's villages and zip codes

Mattapoisett uses a single ZIP code, 02739, for the entire town.

Mattapoisett villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Mattapoisett center02739Around Town Hall and Shipyard Park on Water Street, at the head of Mattapoisett Harbor.
Cannonville / Ned's Point02739The neighborhood around Ned's Point, at the harbor's entrance on Buzzards Bay.

Things to do in Mattapoisett, MA

Start with Ned's Point Light and Shipyard Park, then 2 more below.

  1. Ned's Point Light

    An 1838 stone lighthouse with a cantilevered granite stairway of 32 steps set into the tower wall without mortar, marking the entrance to Mattapoisett Harbor. It was named for local farmer Ned Dexter and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

    FreeYear-round

    Ned's Point Road, Mattapoisett, MA

  2. Shipyard Park

    A waterfront park in the town center on Water Street, on the site of the shipyards that built roughly 400 vessels for the town's shipbuilding and whaling trade between the 1740s and 1870s.

    FreeYear-round

    Water Street, Mattapoisett, MA

  3. Nasketucket Bay State Reservation

    A 210-acre state reservation with rocky shoreline, open fields, and wooded trails leading to a rocky beach on Buzzards Bay. It was protected from residential development and established as a reservation in 1999.

    FreeYear-round

    Brandt Beach Road, Mattapoisett, MA

  4. Mattapoisett Free Public Library

    The town's public library on Barstow Street.

    FreeYear-round

    7 Barstow Street, Mattapoisett, MA

A little history

Mattapoisett was settled in 1750 and incorporated as a separate town from Rochester on May 21, 1857; its name comes from a Wampanoag word meaning a place of resting.

Shipyards along Mattapoisett Harbor built about 400 vessels between the 1740s and the 1870s, including the whaling ship Acushnet, which Herman Melville sailed on before writing Moby-Dick.

Ned's Point Light was built in 1838 at the harbor entrance and named for local farmer Ned Dexter; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Mattapoisett

Mattapoisett's outdoor recreation follows Buzzards Bay, from Shipyard Park and Ned's Point in the harbor to the shoreline trails at Nasketucket Bay State Reservation.

  • Nasketucket Bay State Reservation210 acres of shoreline, fields, and wooded trails on Buzzards Bay.
  • Shipyard ParkA harborfront park in the town center on the site of the historic shipyards.
  • Ned's PointThe point at the harbor entrance, with the 1838 lighthouse and views across Buzzards Bay.

Where to eat in Mattapoisett: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Mattapoisett to try, including seafood restaurant, sushi bar, and fish market and american restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Mattapoisett

The town center around Shipyard Park, Water Street, and Main Street has sidewalks connecting the harbor, shops, and Town Hall, but most of Mattapoisett, spread along the bay and Route 6, is built around driving.

Mattapoisett center

16 Main Street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739

Cannonville / Ned's Point

Check any Mattapoisett address

Drive times

  • New Bedford, about 9 miles15-20 min
  • New Bedford Regional Airport, about 8 miles15-20 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Mattapoisett has no train station; the nearest regional rail and bus connections run through New Bedford and Providence. Interstate 195 (Exit 31A/B) and U.S. Route 6 are the town's main highway connections.

Mattapoisett property taxes

Mattapoisett's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,024 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $8,244, on an average assessed value of $805,060.

Mattapoisett's FY2026 tax rates

$10.24per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$10.24 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$805,060
  • Average single-family tax bill$8,244
  • 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.

Mattapoisett property tax calculator

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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$12.40
FY2023$11.25
FY2024$10.51
FY2025$10.76
FY2026$10.24

Look up a Mattapoisett property

Buying a home in Mattapoisett

What we check on a Mattapoisett purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, coastal flood zones, private wells and septic.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

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

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

As a harbor town on Buzzards Bay, Mattapoisett has FEMA-mapped coastal flood zones along its shoreline, including areas near Shipyard Park, Ned's Point, and Nasketucket Bay. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Mattapoisett
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Mattapoisett Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-758-4150 to schedule.

Mattapoisett Fire Department page
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. Requirements vary by when the home was permitted; contact the Mattapoisett Fire Department to schedule the inspection.

Mattapoisett Fire Department
Coastal flood zones

Check FEMA flood maps along Buzzards Bay

Mattapoisett's harbor and Buzzards Bay shoreline put many waterfront and near-waterfront parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check the flood map and flood insurance requirements before you make an offer here.

Private wells and septic

Some areas rely on private wells and septic systems

While the town's Water & Sewer Department serves parts of Mattapoisett, ask whether a specific property is on public water and sewer or on a private well and septic system, which would require a Title 5 inspection before sale.

Mattapoisett Board of Health

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 Mattapoisett?

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

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

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Mattapoisett: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Mattapoisett: Eversource for power.

Mattapoisett Transfer Station

16 Main Street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm; closed Sunday and Monday

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Mattapoisett Town Hall is at 16 Main Street, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Main line: 508-758-4100.

Mattapoisett, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Mattapoisett, MA?

Mattapoisett's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.24 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 Mattapoisett?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,096 a year at $10.24 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Mattapoisett have a split tax rate?

No. Mattapoisett uses a single rate of $10.24 per $1,000 for all property classes.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Mattapoisett was $8,244 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $805,060.

Does Mattapoisett have curbside trash pickup?

No. Mattapoisett residents bring trash and recycling to the town Transfer Station on Main Street, open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm.

Who supplies electricity in Mattapoisett?

Eversource provides electric service in Mattapoisett.

What ZIP code does Mattapoisett use?

Mattapoisett uses a single ZIP code, 02739, for the whole town.

Is there public water and sewer in Mattapoisett?

The town's Water & Sewer Department supplies water from four groundwater wells in the Mattapoisett River Valley and pumps sewerage to Fairhaven's treatment plant; ask about a specific property's connection, since some areas may rely on private wells or septic.

How far is Mattapoisett from New Bedford and Boston?

Mattapoisett is about 9 miles east of New Bedford and about 60 miles south of Boston.

What is Ned's Point Light?

Ned's Point Light is an 1838 stone lighthouse at the entrance to Mattapoisett Harbor, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Towns near Mattapoisett

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

Sources