First-time buyer programs
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MassHousing home loansLiving in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
Oak Bluffs is a town on the north shore of Martha's Vineyard, bordering Nantucket Sound and sharing a common corner with Tisbury, Edgartown and West Tisbury. It was incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City, the first Vineyard town founded specifically for tourism, and renamed Oak Bluffs in 1907. Its center holds the Wesleyan Grove Campground of gingerbread cottages, a National Historic Landmark, and the harbor where the Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole docks.
Oak Bluffs at a glance
- $4.99Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,996Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 45 (ferry) minDrive to Falmouth (via ferry)
- DukesCounty
Oak Bluffs's zip code
Oak Bluffs uses ZIP code 02557. Part of the town's Vineyard Haven side shares 02568 with Tisbury.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Bluffs center | 02557 | Around the harbor and Circuit Avenue, including the Campground and the Flying Horses Carousel. |
Things to do in Oak Bluffs, MA
Start with Flying Horses Carousel and Gingerbread cottages, Wesleyan Grove Campground, then 3 more below.
Flying Horses Carousel
The oldest operating platform carousel in the country, built in 1884 and designated a National Historic Landmark. Riders can grab for a brass ring on the outer row of horses.
Circuit Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA
Gingerbread cottages, Wesleyan Grove Campground
A cluster of small, colorfully painted Carpenter Gothic cottages built around the Methodist campmeeting grounds starting in the 1860s. The Campground was named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.
Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, MA
The Tabernacle
A circular, open-sided pavilion with a metal roof on wrought-iron columns, built in the late 1880s at the center of the Campground. It hosts community sings and concerts in season.
Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, MA
Oak Bluffs Town Beach (the Inkwell)
A harbor-side town beach near the Campground, historically significant as a gathering place for Oak Bluffs' Black community since the early 20th century.
Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA
Ocean Park
A waterfront park and bandstand along Seaview Avenue, used for summer concerts and fireworks.
Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA
More worth a visit
- Oak Bluffs HarborA working harbor with recreational boat slips and a fishing pier.
- Joseph Sylvia State BeachA barrier-beach state beach shared with Edgartown, reached by the beach road along Sengekontacket Pond.
Around the calendar
- JulyPortuguese FeastAn annual feast held at the Portuguese-American Club in mid-July.
A little history
Oak Bluffs was incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City, split off from Edgartown, and was the only one of Martha's Vineyard's towns planned from the start around tourism.
The town was renamed Oak Bluffs in 1907.
The Wesleyan Grove Campground began as a Methodist camp-meeting site in the 1830s and grew into the neighborhood of small cottages that stands today.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Oak Bluffs
Oak Bluffs' outdoor life centers on its harbor, town beaches and Ocean Park, with barrier-beach swimming a short drive along the Beach Road toward Edgartown.
- Oak Bluffs Town Beach (the Inkwell)Harbor-side swimming beach near the Campground.
- Ocean ParkWaterfront park and bandstand along Seaview Avenue.
- Joseph Sylvia State BeachBarrier beach along Beach Road toward Edgartown, shared between the two towns.
- Eastville BeachA beach near the harbor entrance, facing Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Walkability and getting around Oak Bluffs
Oak Bluffs' center around Circuit Avenue and the harbor is compact and walkable, with shops, restaurants and the ferry dock close together, but reaching outlying beaches and neighborhoods generally takes a car or bicycle.
Drive times
- Falmouth (via ferry), about 8 miles45 (ferry) min
- Martha's Vineyard Airport, about 6 miles15-20 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) operates island bus routes through Oak Bluffs, including service to Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and other island towns. The Steamship Authority runs seasonal and year-round ferries between Oak Bluffs and Woods Hole; seasonal passenger ferries also connect Oak Bluffs to Falmouth, Hyannis, Nantucket, New Bedford and Quonset Point, RI. There is no train service on Martha's Vineyard.
Oak Bluffs property taxes
Oak Bluffs's FY2026 residential tax rate is $4.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $4.85. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $499 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,996, on an average assessed value of $1,402,043.
Oak Bluffs's FY2026 tax rates
$4.99per $1,000, residential
- Residential$4.99 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$4.85 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$1,402,043
- Average single-family tax bill$6,996
- 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 | $6.79 |
| FY2023 | $5.28 |
| FY2024 | $5.23 |
| FY2025 | $5.05 |
| FY2026 | $4.99 |
Look up a Oak Bluffs property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-693-3554 ext. 104
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Oak Bluffs
What we check on a Oak Bluffs purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, septic & title 5, coastal flood zone.
Check the flood zone first
Oak Bluffs' harbor front and low-lying areas along Nantucket Sound and near Sengekontacket Pond fall within FEMA-mapped coastal flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for Oak BluffsSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Oak Bluffs Fire & Emergency Medical Services before the sale closes. Call 508-693-5380 to schedule.
Oak Bluffs Fire & Emergency Medical Services pageConfirm septic status before closing
Outlying parts of Oak Bluffs rely on private septic systems rather than the town sewer system. Massachusetts law requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on a septic system can be sold.
Check FEMA flood maps near the shoreline
Property near Nantucket Sound, the harbor or Sengekontacket Pond may fall within a FEMA flood zone, which can affect insurance requirements. We check the flood map before you make an offer.
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 Oak Bluffs?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Oak Bluffs address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Oak Bluffs: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Oak Bluffs: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service
- WaterOak Bluffs Water District
- Sewer or septicOak Bluffs Wastewater Facility serves the town's denser center; outlying parcels rely on septic systems.
- Trash and recyclingThe town's website provides a trash and recycling collection schedule and manages pickup for residents.
- 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
Oak Bluffs Town Hall is at P.O. Box 1327, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:00 PM. Main line: 508-693-3554.
- Town HallMain line and website508-693-3554
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.508-693-3554 ext. 120
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.508-693-3554 ext. 104
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.508-693-3554 ext. 209
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.508-693-3554 ext. 123
- Planning BoardZoning, land use, and planning applications.508-693-3554 ext. 154
- Parks & RecreationTown parks, recreation programs, and facility reservations.508-693-0072
- Highway DepartmentRoads, town facilities, and infrastructure.508-693-0072
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, wells, and public health.508-693-3554 ext. 127
- Fire & Emergency Medical ServicesFire department; smoke and carbon-monoxide certificates for home sales.508-693-5380
- Oak Bluffs LibraryThe town's public library.508-693-9433
Oak Bluffs, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Oak Bluffs, MA?
Oak Bluffs's FY2026 residential tax rate is $4.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $4.85. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Oak Bluffs?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $1,996 a year at $4.99 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Oak Bluffs have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $4.99 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $4.85.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Oak Bluffs?
The average single-family tax bill in Oak Bluffs was $6,996 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,402,043.
What county is Oak Bluffs in?
Oak Bluffs is in Dukes County, on Martha's Vineyard.
What ZIP code does Oak Bluffs use?
Oak Bluffs uses ZIP code 02557.
How do you get to Oak Bluffs?
The Steamship Authority operates a car and passenger ferry between Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs; seasonal passenger ferries also run from Falmouth, Hyannis, New Bedford, Nantucket and Quonset Point, RI.
Is there public transit in Oak Bluffs?
Yes. The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) operates island bus routes through Oak Bluffs to other Vineyard towns.
Who supplies electricity in Oak Bluffs?
Eversource is the electric utility serving Oak Bluffs.
What are Town Hall's hours?
Oak Bluffs Town Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Towns near Oak Bluffs
Neighbors of Oak Bluffs, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Oak Bluffs official website: oakbluffsma.gov
- Town of Oak Bluffs directory: oakbluffsma.gov
- 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.
- Checked September 25, 2026.