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 Rockland, Massachusetts
Rockland is a town in Plymouth County, on the South Shore about 8 miles northeast of Brockton and 22 miles south of Boston. It was set off from Abington as its own town in 1874, taking its name from the rocky, ledge-filled ground that suited mills and industry better than farming. Town Hall and the shopping district sit along Union Street and Routes 123 and 139 in the town center.
Rockland at a glance
- $13.87Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $7,603Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-20 minDrive to Brockton
- PlymouthCounty
Rockland's zip code
Rockland uses a single ZIP code, 02370, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rockland center | 02370 | Along Union Street and Routes 123 and 139, where Town Hall, the library and most shops are located. |
Things to do in Rockland, MA
Start with Rockland Memorial Library and Lower Union Street Historic District, then 1 more below.
Rockland Memorial Library
The town's public library, built in 1903, on Union Street in the town center.
Union St, Rockland, MA
Plan a visitLower Union Street Historic District
A cluster of late-19th and early-20th-century buildings along Union Street, including the Grand Army of the Republic Hall (1899) and the Rockland Trust Company building (1917).
Union St, Rockland, MA
Rockland town parks and town forest
Several town parks are spread through Rockland, along with a small town forest just south of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station land.
Rockland, MA
A little history
The area was settled as a northeastern section of Abington before separating and incorporating as its own town, Rockland, on March 9, 1874.
The town took its name from its rocky, ledge-heavy terrain, which favored mills and shoe-industry shops over farmland.
Rockland Trust Company, now one of the largest publicly traded commercial banks headquartered in Massachusetts, traces its roots to the town.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Rockland
Rockland's outdoor space is centered on its town parks, a small town forest, and ponds along its eastern edge shared with Hingham and Norwell.
- Accord PondA pond at the junction of Rockland, Hingham and Norwell.
- Studleys Pond (Reeds Pond)A town pond used locally for fishing and walking access.
- Rockland town forestA small town-owned forest parcel south of the former Naval Air Station land.
Walkability and getting around Rockland
Rockland's town center along Union Street has sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the library and nearby shops, but most of the town's residential streets are built for driving.
Drive times
- Brockton, about 8 miles15-20 min
- Logan International Airport, about 22 miles35-45 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Old Colony rail line once ran through Rockland but is no longer in service; the nearest MBTA commuter rail stops are in South Weymouth and Abington. Massachusetts Route 3 crosses the town's northeast corner, and Routes 123 and 139 run through the town center.
Rockland property taxes
Rockland's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.87 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,387 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,603, on an average assessed value of $548,175.
Rockland's FY2026 tax rates
$13.87per $1,000, residential
- Residential$13.87 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$548,175
- Average single-family tax bill$7,603
- 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 | $16.75 |
| FY2023 | $15.22 |
| FY2024 | $14.06 |
| FY2025 | $13.67 |
| FY2026 | $13.87 |
Look up a Rockland property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 781-871-1874
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Rockland
What we check on a Rockland purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, recycling center permit, no in-town rail station.
Check the flood zone first
Low-lying land near Accord Pond, Studleys Pond and the brooks that feed them, including one sourced at the Abington-Rockland Reservoir, can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for RocklandSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Rockland Fire Department before the sale closes.
Rockland Fire Department pageExtra recycling drop-off requires a paid access sticker
Curbside trash pickup is standard in Rockland, but using the town Recycling Center on Beech Street for extra recycling or hazardous waste requires a $10 (town trash customers) or $20 (private hauler customers) access fee tied to vehicle registration.
Recycling CenterNearest commuter rail is in neighboring towns
Rockland's own Old Colony rail line stop is no longer in service; commuters use MBTA stations in South Weymouth or Abington, so factor that drive or park-and-ride into a commute from Rockland.
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 Rockland?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Rockland address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Rockland: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Rockland: National Grid, with a town-run Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply for power.
- ElectricNational Grid, with a town-run Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply
- Trash and recyclingRockland provides curbside trash pickup on a route schedule, and residents on town trash pickup can also use the Recycling Center on Beech Street for extra recycling, hazardous waste events and a mulch program with a vehicle-registration access sticker.
- 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
Rockland Recycling Center
1000 Beech St, Rockland, MA 02370 Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8:30am-4pm; Sunday 8:30-11:30am; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
$10 access fee for residents on town trash pickup, $20 for residents using private trash service
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Rockland Town Hall is at 242 Union St, Rockland, MA 02370. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, extended to 8:00pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday September-June. Main line: 781-871-1874.
- Town HallMain line and website781-871-1874
- Town ClerkElections, vital records and licensing.781-871-1874
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.781-871-1874
- Town CollectorTax billing and payment.781-871-1874, ext. 1110
- Recycling CenterTrash-and-recycling drop-off, hazardous waste events and access permits.781-812-5231
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, recycling center access and public health.
- Fire DepartmentEmergency services and smoke-detector certificates for home sales.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning & ZoningLand use and zoning.
- Rockland Memorial LibraryThe town's public library.
- Rockland Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Rockland, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Rockland, MA?
Rockland's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.87 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 Rockland?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,548 a year at $13.87 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Rockland have a split tax rate?
No. Rockland uses a single rate of $13.87 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Rockland?
The average single-family tax bill in Rockland was $7,603 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $548,175.
What county is Rockland, MA in?
Rockland is in Plymouth County.
Is there an MBTA station in Rockland?
No. Rockland's own rail line is no longer in service; the nearest MBTA commuter rail stops are in South Weymouth and Abington.
Is Rockland trash pickup curbside?
Yes, Rockland provides curbside trash pickup, with an additional Recycling Center on Beech Street for extra recycling and hazardous waste drop-off.
Who supplies electricity in Rockland?
National Grid is the electric utility, and the town also runs a Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply options.
How far is Rockland from Boston?
Rockland is about 22 miles south of Boston.
Which towns border Rockland?
Rockland borders Weymouth, Hingham, Norwell, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and Abington.
Towns near Rockland
Neighbors of Rockland, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Rockland, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Rockland official website: rockland-ma.gov
- Recycling Center - Town of Rockland: rockland-ma.gov
- Board of Assessors - Town of Rockland: rockland-ma.gov
- Town Collector - Town of Rockland: rockland-ma.gov
- Community Electricity Aggregation Program - Town of Rockland: rockland-ma.gov
- Rockland Union Street 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: Marc N. Belanger (Marcbela), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.