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Living in Palmer, Massachusetts

Palmer is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, at the point where the Ware and Quaboag rivers join to form the Chicopee River. It was first settled in 1716 and incorporated in 1775. Because five active rail lines and two more incomplete or long-defunct ones once converged here, Palmer is known as the "Town of Seven Railroads," and its 1884 Union Station, designed by architect H. H. Richardson, still stands at the center of town.

Depot Village (Palmer Center)Three RiversBondsvilleThorndike

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Palmer at a glance

Palmer's villages and zip codes

Palmer is made up of four villages, each with its own ZIP code: Depot Village/Palmer Center (01069), Bondsville (01009), Thorndike (01079), and Three Rivers (01080).

Palmer villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Depot Village (Palmer Center)01069Palmer's town center, around Town Hall and the former Union Station on Depot Street
Three Rivers01080At the confluence of the Ware and Quaboag rivers, which form the Chicopee River
Bondsville01009On the Swift River in the northeast part of town, straddling the Palmer/Belchertown line
Thorndike01079In the north part of town along the Quaboag River

Things to do in Palmer, MA

Start with Steaming Tender Restaurant at Union Station and Pulaski Park, then 1 more below.

  1. Steaming Tender Restaurant at Union Station

    A restaurant inside Palmer's 1884 Union Station, the H. H. Richardson-designed former railroad depot at the center of town. It opened in 2004 and caters to railroad enthusiasts, with décor and a menu built around the building's rail history.

    Year-round

    28 Depot Street, Palmer

  2. Pulaski Park

    A park in the Three Rivers village that hosts community and cultural events tied to the village's Polish-American heritage.

    FreeYear-round

    Three Rivers village, Palmer

  3. Palmer Motorsports Park

    A 2.3-mile road racing circuit with more than 190 feet of elevation change, which opened in May 2015.

    Seasonal

    Palmer

A little history

Palmer was first settled in 1716 by John King and was originally part of Brimfield; it went through several name changes before being incorporated as Palmer in 1775, named for a colonial judicial figure, John Palmer.

By 1825 Palmer's woolen mills were producing textiles, and by 1900 the Boston Duck Company, which made heavy cotton fabric, employed more than 500 people in town.

Palmer became known as the "Town of Seven Railroads" for the rail lines that converged here; its 1884 Union Station, designed by architect H. H. Richardson, served passengers until Amtrak ended service through the town in 1971.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Palmer

Green space in and around Palmer.

  • Quaboag, Ware, Swift, and Chicopee riversPalmer sits at the point where the Ware and Quaboag rivers meet to form the Chicopee River, with the Swift River running through the Bondsville area; the rivers shaped the town's mill villages and rail routes.

Where to eat in Palmer: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Palmer to try, including restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Palmer

How walkable Palmer is depends on the street. Check any address below.

Depot Village (Palmer Center)

4417 Main Street, Palmer, MA 01069

Check any Palmer address

Drive times

  • Springfield
  • Bradley International Airport

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

There is no active Amtrak or Valley Flyer stop in Palmer today; passenger rail service through the town's historic Union Station ended in 1971. The station building, designed by H. H. Richardson and opened in 1884, still stands on Depot Street and now houses a restaurant.

Palmer property taxes

Palmer's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.66 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,666 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,014, on an average assessed value of $300,932.

Palmer's FY2026 tax rates

$16.66per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$16.66 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$300,932
  • Average single-family tax bill$5,014
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Palmer has one town-wide tax rate of $16.66 per $1,000 of assessed value for FY2026 (July 2025-June 2026), plus an additional fire district rate depending on which of the town's four fire districts (Palmer, Three Rivers, Bondsville, Thorndike) a property is in, bringing the combined rate to between $18.44 and $19.07 per $1,000.

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Palmer property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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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$19.83
FY2023$17.93
FY2024$17.15
FY2025$16.48
FY2026$16.66

Look up a Palmer property

Buying a home in Palmer

What we check on a Palmer purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, fire districts, smoke certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

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

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Palmer
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Palmer Fire District #1 before the sale closes. Call 413-283-3861 to schedule.

Palmer Fire District #1 page
Foundations

Ask about foundation testing

The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Palmer among the towns most at risk from pyrrhotite, a mineral linked to crumbling concrete foundations, based on distance from the Connecticut quarry that supplied the concrete. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.

UMass pyrrhotite guide
Fire districts

Tax bills vary by fire district

Palmer has four separate fire districts (Palmer, Three Rivers, Bondsville, and Thorndike), each with its own add-on rate layered on top of the town's base tax rate, so two homes with the same assessed value can have different tax bills depending on which fire district they're in.

See FY2026 tax rates
Smoke certificate

Smoke and CO detector certificate before closing

Massachusetts requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. In Palmer, contact the fire district that covers the property to schedule the inspection.

Palmer Fire District #1

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 Palmer?

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

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

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Moving to Palmer: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Palmer.

Town Hall offices and contacts

Palmer Town Hall is at 4417 Main Street, Palmer, MA 01069. Hours: Monday 8:30 AM-7:30 PM; Tuesday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; closed Friday-Sunday and legal holidays. Main line: 413-283-2600.

Palmer, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Palmer, MA?

Palmer's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.66 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 Palmer?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,664 a year at $16.66 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Palmer have a split tax rate?

No. Palmer uses a single rate of $16.66 per $1,000 for all property classes.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Palmer was $5,014 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $300,932.

What are Palmer's ZIP codes?

Palmer has four ZIP codes, one for each of its villages: 01069 (Depot Village/Palmer Center), 01009 (Bondsville), 01079 (Thorndike), and 01080 (Three Rivers).

Is there passenger rail service in Palmer?

Not currently. Amtrak passenger service through Palmer's historic Union Station ended in 1971. The 1884 station building, designed by architect H. H. Richardson, still stands on Depot Street and now houses a restaurant.

Do I need a smoke detector certificate to sell a home in Palmer?

Yes. Massachusetts law requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local fire department before closing. In Palmer, that means contacting the fire district (Palmer, Three Rivers, Bondsville, or Thorndike) that covers the property.

Why is Palmer called the "Town of Seven Railroads"?

The nickname comes from the rail lines that once converged in town: five operating railroads plus two that were incomplete or never became operational, reflecting Palmer's historic role as a rail junction where the Boston and Albany and other lines crossed.

Towns near Palmer

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

Sources