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 loans
Living in New Salem, Massachusetts
New Salem is a town in Franklin County first settled in 1737 and incorporated in 1753, named for settlers from Salem, Massachusetts. Its total area of 58.6 square miles is unusually large for the region because it includes land taken from the former towns of Prescott, Greenwich and Enfield when the Quabbin Reservoir was built, and much of that land, including the Prescott Peninsula, is now part of the Quabbin Reservation.
New Salem at a glance
- $13.62Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,951Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- FranklinCounty
- 1753Year incorporated
New Salem's zip code
New Salem uses ZIP code 01355.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| New Salem center | 01355 | Around the town common on South Main Street, where Town Hall is located. |
Things to do in New Salem, MA
Start with Quabbin Reservation and New Salem town common.
Quabbin Reservation
A large protected watershed forest around the Quabbin Reservoir, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, reaching into New Salem through land taken from the former towns of Prescott, Greenwich and Enfield. Trails and gated roads cross the reservation for walking and wildlife viewing.
New Salem, MA
New Salem town common
The historic town center green, surrounded by 19th-century buildings including the Congregational church and Town Hall.
South Main Street, New Salem, MA
A little history
New Salem was first settled in 1737 and officially incorporated as a town in 1753, taking its name from settlers who came from Salem, Massachusetts.
In the early 20th century, the state took land from the former towns of Prescott, Greenwich and Enfield to build the Quabbin Reservoir, and portions of that land, including the Prescott Peninsula, were annexed into New Salem, greatly expanding its area.
The Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory operated on Prescott Peninsula land in New Salem until 2011.
Parks, trails and outdoors in New Salem
The Quabbin Reservoir and its surrounding reservation dominate New Salem's landscape, with the Prescott Peninsula and hills like Mount Pleasant and Prescott Hill offering forested, undeveloped land for walking and wildlife viewing.
- Quabbin ReservationState-administered watershed forest with gated roads and trails around the Quabbin Reservoir.
- Prescott PeninsulaA restricted-access peninsula extending into the reservoir, part of the Quabbin Reservation land within New Salem.
Walkability and getting around New Salem
New Salem is a rural town with a small historic common at its center; most of the town, including the land bordering the Quabbin Reservoir, has no sidewalks and is built for driving.
Drive times
- Athol
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
New Salem has no fixed-route public transit, bus service or train station.
New Salem property taxes
New Salem's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.62 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,362 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,951, on an average assessed value of $363,525.
New Salem's FY2026 tax rates
$13.62per $1,000, residential
- Residential$13.62 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$363,525
- Average single-family tax bill$4,951
- 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 | $18.92 |
| FY2023 | $15.35 |
| FY2024 | $14.37 |
| FY2025 | $13.58 |
| FY2026 | $13.62 |
Look up a New Salem property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 978-544-6437
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in New Salem
What we check on a New Salem purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, quabbin watershed.
Check the flood zone first
The Quabbin Reservoir and its watershed streams border much of New Salem; low-lying land near the reservoir and its tributaries can fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for New SalemSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the New Salem Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 978-544-6437 to schedule.
New Salem Fire Department pageHomes rely on private wells and septic
New Salem has no townwide public water or sewer system; most properties use private wells and septic systems. Buyers should confirm well and septic condition, including a Title 5 inspection, before closing.
Much of the town borders protected watershed land
A large share of New Salem's land is part of the state-administered Quabbin Reservation, which limits development near the reservoir. Buyers should check how close a property sits to reservation land and any related use restrictions.
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 New Salem?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a New Salem address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to New Salem: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in New Salem.
- WaterMostly private wells
- Sewer or septicMostly private septic systems
- Trash and recyclingThe town operates a transfer station and recycling center for residents; the town website did not publish current hours or permit pricing.
- 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
New Salem Town Hall is at 19 S. Main Street, New Salem, MA 01355. Hours: Mon 8:30 AM-7 PM, Tue-Thu 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Fri 8:30 AM-12 PM. Main line: 978-544-6437.
- Town HallMain line and website978-544-6437
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.978-544-6437
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.978-544-6437
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.978-544-6437
- Board of HealthSeptic and well permitting.978-544-6437
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and safety inspections.978-544-6437
- New Salem Public LibraryThe town's public library.
- Ralph C. Mahar Regional School DistrictThe regional school district serving New Salem; elementary students attend Swift River Elementary School with Wendell, and high schoolers attend Mahar Regional High School in Orange.
New Salem, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in New Salem, MA?
New Salem's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.62 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 New Salem?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,448 a year at $13.62 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does New Salem have a split tax rate?
No. New Salem uses a single rate of $13.62 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in New Salem?
The average single-family tax bill in New Salem was $4,951 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $363,525.
What county is New Salem, MA in?
New Salem is in Franklin County.
What ZIP code does New Salem use?
New Salem uses ZIP code 01355.
Is there public transit in New Salem?
No. New Salem has no fixed-route bus service or train station.
Which towns border New Salem?
New Salem borders Orange, Athol, Petersham, Ware, Belchertown, Pelham, Shutesbury and Wendell.
What are New Salem Town Hall's hours?
Town Hall, at 19 S. Main Street, is open Monday 8:30 AM to 7 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM to 12 PM.
Why is New Salem so large in area?
New Salem's area grew substantially when the state annexed land from the former towns of Prescott, Greenwich and Enfield during construction of the Quabbin Reservoir.
Towns near New Salem
Neighbors of New Salem, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- New Salem, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of New Salem, MA official website: newsalemma.org
- New Salem village common 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: ColWilliam, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.