First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Paxton, Massachusetts
Paxton is a hill town in Worcester County immediately northwest of the city of Worcester, first settled in 1749 and incorporated in 1765. Asnebumskit Hill, one of the higher points in the area, and Moore State Park's mill ponds and waterfalls are its best-known landmarks.
Paxton at a glance
- $15.17Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $7,989Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- WorcesterCounty
- 1765Year incorporated
Paxton's zip code
All of Paxton uses ZIP code 01612.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Paxton center | 01612 | The town center along Pleasant Street and Route 122, where Town Hall and the common are located. |
Things to do in Paxton, MA
Start with Moore State Park and Worcester County Memorial Park, then 2 more below.
Moore State Park
A 737-acre state park built around a series of former 18th- and 19th-century mill sites on Turkey Hill Brook, with a restored sawmill, Eames Pond, waterfalls and mill chutes. Part of the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Paxton
Plan a visitWorcester County Memorial Park
A cemetery and memorial park in Paxton.
Paxton
Richards Memorial Library
The town's public library, founded in 1877.
Paxton
Thompson Pond
A pond in Paxton noted as a local point of interest.
Paxton
A little history
Paxton was set off from parts of Leicester and Rutland and incorporated in 1765; the town's bell, cast by Paul Revere, was hauled to Paxton by David Davis using a pair of oxen.
Asnebumskit Hill was the site of the Yankee Network's early FM broadcasting antenna, which began commercial operations in the summer of 1939.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Paxton
Moore State Park gives Paxton its main public open space, with mill-pond trails, waterfalls and stands of azalea, rhododendron and mountain laurel.
- Moore State Park737 acres of trails, ponds and former mill sites on Turkey Hill Brook.More information
- Asnebumskit PondPaxton's principal drinking-water source and a local landmark on Asnebumskit Hill.
Walkability and getting around Paxton
Paxton center around Town Hall and the common is walkable on a small scale, but the town is otherwise low-density and hilly, and most errands require a car.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 9 miles
- Worcester Regional Airport, about 5 miles
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Paxton has no fixed-route public transit; the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) serves the adjacent city of Worcester but does not run scheduled routes into Paxton.
Paxton property taxes
Paxton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,517 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,989, on an average assessed value of $526,634.
Paxton's FY2026 tax rates
$15.17per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.17 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$526,634
- Average single-family tax bill$7,989
- 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 | $18.98 |
| FY2023 | $17.58 |
| FY2024 | $16.07 |
| FY2025 | $14.74 |
| FY2026 | $15.17 |
Look up a Paxton property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town Clerk / Board of RegistrarsVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-799-7347 ext. 1016
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Paxton
What we check on a Paxton purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, septic & wells, municipal light.
Check the flood zone first
Paxton is hilly and largely upland; its main water bodies are ponds such as Asnebumskit Pond and Turkey Hill Brook within Moore State Park rather than a major river, and flood zones in town are limited compared with river-valley towns nearby. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for PaxtonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Paxton Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-793-3163 to schedule.
No town sewer system
Paxton has no municipal sewer system, so homes use private septic systems, and Massachusetts requires a Title 5 inspection before a septic-system home is sold. Town water is available through the municipal Water Department, drawn from Asnebumskit Pond.
Board of HealthTown-owned electric utility
Paxton's electricity is supplied by the town's own municipal light department rather than an investor-owned utility; buyers can ask the light department directly about rates and hookups.
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 Paxton?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Paxton address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Paxton: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Paxton: Paxton Municipal Light Plant (town-owned) for power.
- ElectricPaxton Municipal Light Plant (town-owned)
- Natural gasNo natural gas service confirmed in town sources.
- WaterTown of Paxton Water Department; the principal source is Asnebumskit Pond, with Paxton also selling raw water to and buying treated water back from the City of Worcester.
- Sewer or septicNo town sewer system; Paxton relies on private septic systems. A 2006 town meeting vote rejected creating a sewer district for the area of town adjacent to Worcester.
- Trash and recyclingPaxton has curbside trash and mandatory recycling collection, currently handled by P. Pellegrino Trucking Co., Inc. Items must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day, and recycling bins alternate between paper and containers.
- 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
Paxton Town Hall is at 697 Pleasant Street, Paxton, MA 01612. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.. Main line: 508-799-7347.
- Town HallMain line and website508-799-7347
- Town Clerk / Board of RegistrarsVital records, elections and licensing508-556-5583
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments508-799-7347 ext. 1016
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment508-556-5585
- Building Department / ZoningBuilding permits and inspections774-502-6092
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections and well permits508-556-5741
- Fire DepartmentFire and smoke/CO certificate inspections508-793-3163
- Water DepartmentMunicipal water service508-753-9077
- Department of Public Works (Highway)Roads and public works508-753-9077
- Recreation DepartmentParks and recreation programs508-363-1822
- Richards Memorial LibraryPublic library508-754-0793
- Planning BoardLand use and subdivision review508-753-2803
- Wachusett Regional School DistrictSchool district serving Paxton
Paxton, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Paxton, MA?
Paxton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.17 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 Paxton?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,068 a year at $15.17 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Paxton have a split tax rate?
No. Paxton uses a single rate of $15.17 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Paxton?
The average single-family tax bill in Paxton was $7,989 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $526,634.
Who supplies electricity in Paxton?
The Paxton Municipal Light Plant, a town-owned utility, rather than National Grid or Eversource.
Does Paxton have sewer service?
No. Paxton has no town sewer system; homes use private septic systems, with a Title 5 inspection required at sale.
Is trash pickup curbside in Paxton?
Yes, curbside collection with mandatory recycling, currently under contract with P. Pellegrino Trucking Co., Inc.
How far is Paxton from Worcester?
About 8 miles.
Towns near Paxton
Neighbors of Paxton, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Paxton, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Paxton official website: paxtonma.gov
- Town of Paxton Directory: paxtonma.gov
- Town of Paxton Trash & Recycling: paxtonma.gov
- Moore State Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.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: Victorgrigas, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.