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
Living in Norwell, Massachusetts
Norwell is a town on Massachusetts's South Shore, set off from Scituate as Second Parish and incorporated on its own in 1849. The town's eastern border follows the North River, once lined with 18th- and early-19th-century shipyards, and its northern half is hillier than the wetland-heavy south. Route 3 and Route 53 run through town, and the southern end of Wompatuck State Park reaches into Norwell's northeast corner.
Norwell at a glance
- $12.83Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $13,675Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 35-45 minDrive to Boston
- PlymouthCounty
Norwell's zip code
Norwell uses a single ZIP code, 02061, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Norwell center | 02061 | Around the Town Hall complex on Longwater Circle and the Norwell Village Area Historic District along Main Street. |
Things to do in Norwell, MA
Start with James Library and Center for the Arts and South Shore Natural Science Center, then 2 more below.
James Library and Center for the Arts
A historic library building that now operates as an arts center with exhibits, concerts and a small research library, in Norwell's Church Hill Historic District.
24 West St, Norwell, MA
South Shore Natural Science Center
A nature center on Jacobs Farm with trails, live-animal exhibits and environmental programs for families.
48 Jacobs Ln, Norwell, MA
Wompatuck State Park (southern section)
The southern portion of this large state park extends into Norwell, with wooded trails and paved multi-use paths that continue into Hingham and Scituate.
Off Union St, Norwell, MA
North River
The river forming Norwell's southeastern border once supported dozens of shipyards; it's now used for kayaking, canoeing and fishing along its marshy banks.
Access via Route 3A and riverside landings
More worth a visit
- Bryant-Cushing HouseA historic house dating to around 1698, one of the town's oldest surviving structures.
A little history
The area was settled by 1634 as part of the Satuit (Scituate) settlement and later became Norwell's Second Parish before incorporating as its own town on February 14, 1849, under the name South Scituate.
The town was renamed Norwell in 1888, after Henry Norwell, a Boston dry-goods merchant.
Shipbuilding was a major industry along the North River through the 18th and early 19th centuries, with numerous shipyards operating on Norwell's riverbank.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Norwell
Norwell's outdoor recreation centers on the North River to the south and the Wompatuck State Park land in the northeast corner of town, with additional trails at the South Shore Natural Science Center.
- Wompatuck State ParkMiles of paved and wooded multi-use trails shared with Hingham and Scituate.
- North RiverA tidal river along the town's southeastern border, used for paddling and fishing.
- South Shore Natural Science Center trailsNature trails on Jacobs Farm open to the public.
Walkability and getting around Norwell
Norwell has no dense downtown grid; the historic Church Hill area near the James Library has sidewalks, but most of the town, including its residential subdivisions and commercial stretches along Route 53, is built for driving.
Drive times
- Boston, about 22 miles35-45 min
- Logan International Airport, about 25 miles40-50 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Norwell has no train station of its own; the nearest MBTA commuter rail stop is the Greenbush Line station in neighboring Scituate, about a mile from Norwell's border. Routes 3, 53, 123 and 228 run through town.
Norwell property taxes
Norwell's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,283 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $13,675, on an average assessed value of $1,065,899.
Norwell's FY2026 tax rates
$12.83per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.83 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$1,065,899
- Average single-family tax bill$13,675
- 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 | $16.62 |
| FY2023 | $15.29 |
| FY2024 | $13.46 |
| FY2025 | $13.07 |
| FY2026 | $12.83 |
Look up a Norwell property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Norwell
What we check on a Norwell purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, private septic, river flood zone.
Check the flood zone first
The North River along Norwell's southeastern border and its marshy tributaries put low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for NorwellSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Norwell Fire Department before the sale closes.
Norwell Fire Department pageMost of Norwell is on private septic
The town has no town-wide sewer system, so most properties use private septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on septic can be sold.
Check FEMA flood maps near the North River
Low-lying land along the North River and its tributaries falls within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the river.
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 Norwell?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Norwell address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Norwell: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Norwell: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasEversource
- WaterNorwell Water Department, a municipal groundwater system
- Sewer or septicNorwell has no town-wide sewer system; most properties rely on private septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingThe town's Department of Public Works publishes curbside trash and recycling collection schedules, along with a recycling center and sharps/medication drop-off.
- 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
Norwell Town Hall is at 93 Longwater Circle, Norwell, MA 02061. Hours: Mon-Tue 8:00 AM-4:15 PM, Wed 8:00 AM-7:30 PM, Thu 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Fri 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. Main line: 781-659-8000.
- Town HallMain line and website781-659-8000
- Town ClerkElections, vital records, marriage licenses.
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments.
- Treasurer/CollectorTax billing and payment.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning & ZoningLand use regulation and zoning maps.
- Public WorksRoads, water department and trash/recycling.
- Fire DepartmentEmergency services, burn permits and smoke-detector certificates for home sales.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections and public health services.
- Norwell Public LibraryThe town's public library, part of the Old Colony Library Network.
- Norwell Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Norwell, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Norwell, MA?
Norwell's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.83 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 Norwell?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,132 a year at $12.83 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Norwell have a split tax rate?
No. Norwell uses a single rate of $12.83 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Norwell?
The average single-family tax bill in Norwell was $13,675 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,065,899.
What county is Norwell, MA in?
Norwell is in Plymouth County.
What ZIP code does Norwell use?
Norwell uses a single ZIP code, 02061, for the whole town.
Is there a train station in Norwell?
No. The nearest MBTA commuter rail stop is the Greenbush Line station in neighboring Scituate.
Is Norwell on public sewer or septic?
Norwell has no town-wide sewer system; most properties rely on private septic systems, which require a Title 5 inspection before sale.
Who supplies water and electricity in Norwell?
The municipal Norwell Water Department supplies water from local groundwater wells, and Eversource provides electricity and gas.
Which towns border Norwell?
Norwell borders Hanover, Rockland, Pembroke, Marshfield, Scituate and Hingham.
Towns near Norwell
Neighbors of Norwell, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Norwell, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Norwell official website: townofnorwell.net
- Norwell Water Department - WaterZen profile: waterzen.com
- Jacobs Farmhouse 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: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.