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Rochester Town Hall in Rochester, Massachusetts.

Living in Rochester, Massachusetts

Rochester is a town in Plymouth County about 10 miles northeast of New Bedford and 60 miles south of Boston. Settled in 1679 on land known to the Wampanoag as Sippican and incorporated in 1686, it was named for Rochester, England, home of some early settlers. Once a shipbuilding and whaling center, Rochester became a landlocked town after Marion split off in 1852 and Mattapoisett in 1857, and today its landscape is defined by ponds, cranberry bogs, and large tracts of conserved forest and wetland.

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: T.S. Custadio (ToddC4176), CC BY-SA 3.0

Rochester at a glance

Rochester's zip code

Rochester uses a single ZIP code, 02770, for the entire town.

Rochester villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Rochester center02770Around Town Hall and Plumb Corner, the crossroads at the junction of County Road and Rounseville Road.

Things to do in Rochester, MA

Start with Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area and Hartley Reservoir Wildlife Management Area, then 2 more below.

  1. Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area

    A 3,104-acre wildlife management area spanning Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett, with forest interspersed with wetlands including Haskell Swamp, Towsers Swamp, Bear Swamp, and an Atlantic white cedar swamp. Miles of wide, flat trails follow old logging roads for hiking, birding, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

    FreeYear-round

    Parking at 200 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA

  2. Hartley Reservoir Wildlife Management Area

    A wildlife management area built on the site of a cranberry bog operation active from the early to mid-1900s; the state acquired the property in 1968, and much of the original flume and bog infrastructure remains among the flooded impoundments.

    FreeYear-round

    Rochester, MA

  3. Snipatuit Pond

    A 710-acre natural warm-water pond with an average depth of about five feet, home to largemouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, and yellow perch.

    FreeYear-round

    Snipatuit Road, Rochester, MA

  4. Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library

    The town's public library, next to Town Hall.

    FreeYear-round

    17 Constitution Way, Rochester, MA

A little history

Rochester was settled in 1679 on land the Wampanoag knew as Sippican and was incorporated on June 4, 1686, taking its name from Rochester, England.

The town's shipbuilding and whaling economy declined after Marion separated as its own town in 1852 and Mattapoisett followed in 1857, leaving Rochester without direct access to Buzzards Bay.

Hartley Reservoir Wildlife Management Area was built on a cranberry bog active in the early to mid-1900s; the Commonwealth acquired the abandoned bog in 1968, and much of its original water-control infrastructure still remains.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Rochester

Rochester's outdoor recreation centers on its ponds and large state wildlife management areas, remnants of the cranberry bog industry that once covered much of the town.

  • Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area3,104 acres of forest and wetland across Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett, with miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
  • Hartley Reservoir Wildlife Management AreaA former cranberry bog converted to a wildlife management area with flooded impoundments.
  • Snipatuit PondA 710-acre pond used for freshwater fishing.

Where to eat in Rochester: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Rochester to try, including italian restaurant and full-service market, bakery, and deli. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Rochester

Rochester has no dense village center with continuous sidewalks; the area around Plumb Corner and Town Hall has some pedestrian access, but the town, spread across ponds, cranberry bogs, and conserved woodland, is built around driving.

Rochester center

1 Constitution Way, Rochester, MA 02770

Check any Rochester address

Drive times

  • New Bedford, about 10 miles20-25 min
  • New Bedford Regional Airport, about 10 miles20-25 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Rochester has no train station; the nearest Amtrak service is in Providence, Rhode Island. A short segment of Interstate 495 passes through the northeast corner of town, and Massachusetts Route 105 runs through the town center; there is no fixed-route local bus service.

Rochester property taxes

Rochester's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.59 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,059 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,745, on an average assessed value of $636,929.

Rochester's FY2026 tax rates

$10.59per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$10.59 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$636,929
  • Average single-family tax bill$6,745
  • 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.

Rochester property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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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$12.74
FY2023$11.87
FY2024$11.06
FY2025$10.82
FY2026$10.59

Look up a Rochester property

Buying a home in Rochester

What we check on a Rochester purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, private wells and title 5 septic, trash service.

MassHousing

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
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Rochester's numerous ponds, including Snipatuit Pond, and the wetlands within Haskell Swamp and Hartley Reservoir wildlife management areas put some low-lying shoreline parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Rochester
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Rochester Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-763-1709 to schedule.

Rochester Fire Department page
Smoke & CO certificate

Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing

Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Rochester Fire Department to schedule the required inspection.

Rochester Fire Department
Private wells and Title 5 septic

Ask about wells and septic on rural Rochester lots

Rochester is largely rural, and many properties rely on private wells and septic systems rather than town water and sewer. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 inspection before a home on septic can be sold, and the Board of Health has flagged the statewide Private Wells PFAS Sampling Program as a resource for well owners.

Rochester Board of Health
Trash service

Trash goes through the Marion Transfer Station, not curbside

Rochester has no curbside trash pickup and no transfer station of its own; residents use the Marion Transfer Station under an inter-town agreement, with an annual vehicle sticker.

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 Rochester?

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

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

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Rochester: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Rochester: Eversource for power.

Marion Transfer Station

Benson Brook Road, Marion, MA Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

$70 per vehicle sticker ($60 for seniors 70+ and veterans)

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Rochester Town Hall is at 1 Constitution Way, Rochester, MA 02770. Main line: 508-763-3871.

Rochester, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Rochester, MA?

Rochester's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.59 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 Rochester?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,236 a year at $10.59 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Rochester have a split tax rate?

No. Rochester uses a single rate of $10.59 per $1,000 for all property classes.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Rochester was $6,745 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $636,929.

Is there curbside trash pickup in Rochester?

No. Rochester residents use the Marion Transfer Station on Benson Brook Road, open Wednesdays and Saturdays, with an annual vehicle sticker currently priced at $70 ($60 for seniors 70+ and veterans).

Who supplies electricity in Rochester?

Eversource provides electric service in Rochester.

What ZIP code does Rochester use?

Rochester uses a single ZIP code, 02770, for the whole town.

Is there public water in Rochester?

Yes, the Rochester Water Commission operates a public water system, though many rural properties in town rely on private wells.

How far is Rochester from New Bedford and Boston?

Rochester is about 10 miles northeast of New Bedford and about 60 miles south of Boston.

What outdoor areas does Rochester have?

Rochester includes large parts of the Haskell Swamp and Hartley Reservoir wildlife management areas, plus Snipatuit Pond, much of it former cranberry bog land.

Towns near Rochester

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

Sources