Rowe center
321 Zoar Rd, Rowe, MA 01367
Living in Rowe, Massachusetts
Rowe is a small hill town in the northwest corner of Franklin County, on the Vermont line, incorporated in 1785 and renamed for Boston merchant John Rowe after an earlier settlement called Myrifield. The Deerfield River runs along its eastern side, backed up into Sherman Reservoir near the Vermont border, and Adams Mountain rises above the town common and Mill Pond at the center of town. No state highway runs through Rowe.
Rowe at a glance
- $5.24Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $1,661Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 35-40 minDrive to Greenfield
- FranklinCounty
Rowe's villages and zip codes
Most of Rowe uses ZIP code 01367; the Monroe Bridge area uses 01350.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rowe center | 01367 | Around the town common and Mill Pond on Zoar Road, with Adams Mountain rising behind it. |
| Davis | 01367 | A former mining village, now largely abandoned, in eastern Rowe near Pelham Lake. |
| Monroe Bridge | 01350 | A village along the Deerfield River on Rowe's western edge, shared with the town of Monroe. |
Things to do in Rowe, MA
Start with Pelham Lake Park and Kemp-McCarthy Museum, then 1 more below.
Pelham Lake Park
A town-owned park with a lake, trails and the ruins of the former mining village of Davis nearby, used for swimming, fishing and walking.
Zoar Rd, Rowe, MA
Kemp-McCarthy Museum
A local history museum run by the Rowe Historical Society, covering the town's mining and farming past and the former Yankee Rowe nuclear plant.
282 Zoar Rd, Rowe, MA
Rowe Center
A Unitarian Universalist retreat and conference center on Kings Highway Road, running a youth summer camp and adult workshops and retreats.
Kings Highway Rd, Rowe, MA
A little history
Rowe was settled by 1744 and incorporated in 1785, taking the name of Boston merchant John Rowe after an earlier period as a land grant called Myrifield.
The town's economy once included talc and soapstone mining around the village of Davis, now a largely abandoned site near Pelham Lake.
Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station, the first commercial nuclear power plant in New England, operated near the Sherman Dam from 1960 to 1992 and has since been decommissioned.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Rowe
The Deerfield River and Sherman Reservoir along Rowe's western edge, plus Adams Mountain and Pelham Lake Park in the town center, are the focus of outdoor recreation.
- Pelham Lake ParkTown park with a lake, trails and the Davis ghost-town ruins.
- Sherman ReservoirA reservoir on the Deerfield River formed by the Sherman Dam near the Vermont border, used for fishing and boating.
- Monroe State ForestTwo units of state forest land near Rowe's western border, shared with the town of Monroe.
Walkability and getting around Rowe
Rowe center, a small common with a gazebo and Mill Pond, can be crossed on foot, but this rural, low-density town with no state highway has no walkable commercial district and requires a car to get around.
Drive times
- Greenfield, about 23 miles35-40 min
- Albany International Airport
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Rowe has no fixed-route public transit, bus service, or train station. The nearest bus and air service is in North Adams, and the nearest Amtrak station is in Greenfield.
Rowe property taxes
Rowe's FY2026 residential tax rate is $5.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $11.42. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $524 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $1,661, on an average assessed value of $316,902.
Rowe's FY2026 tax rates
$5.24per $1,000, residential
- Residential$5.24 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$11.42 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$316,902
- Average single-family tax bill$1,661
- 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 | $5.33 |
| FY2023 | $5.18 |
| FY2024 | $5.01 |
| FY2025 | $5.14 |
| FY2026 | $5.24 |
Look up a Rowe property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Rowe
What we check on a Rowe purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, municipal fiber.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Franklin County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for RoweSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Rowe Fire Department before the sale closes.
Every property is on a private well and septic system
Rowe has no public water or sewer system, so all homes use private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on septic can be sold, and we build that timeline into your preapproval.
Town-owned fiber broadband is available
Rowe's Municipal Light Plant is part of the regional WiredWest fiber network, so broadband access, often a concern in rural hilltowns, is worth confirming directly for a specific address.
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 Rowe?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Rowe address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Rowe: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Rowe: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- Natural gasNo natural gas service
- WaterPrivate wells; Rowe has no public water system
- Sewer or septicNo town sewer system; properties use private septic systems
- Trash and recyclingRowe has no curbside collection; residents use the town transfer station and recycling center.
- 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
Rowe Town Hall is at 321 Zoar Rd, Rowe, MA 01367. Main line: 413-339-5520.
- Town HallMain line and website413-339-5520
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.413-339-5520
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.413-339-5520
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.413-339-5520
- Board of HealthSeptic (Title 5) and well permitting.413-339-5520
- Fire DepartmentFire safety and smoke/CO certificates for home sales.413-339-5520
- Highway DepartmentRoads and town infrastructure.413-339-5520
- Planning BoardZoning and land-use applications.413-339-5520
- Rowe town libraryThe town's public library.
- Mohawk Trail Regional School DistrictThe town's public school district (Rowe Elementary, then Mohawk Trail Regional High School).
Rowe, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Rowe, MA?
Rowe's FY2026 residential tax rate is $5.24 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $11.42. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Rowe?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $2,096 a year at $5.24 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Rowe have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $5.24 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $11.42.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Rowe?
The average single-family tax bill in Rowe was $1,661 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $316,902.
What county is Rowe, MA in?
Rowe is in Franklin County, Massachusetts.
What ZIP code does Rowe use?
Most of Rowe uses ZIP code 01367; the Monroe Bridge area uses 01350.
Is there curbside trash pickup in Rowe?
No. Rowe residents use the town transfer station and recycling center.
Who supplies electricity in Rowe?
National Grid is the electric utility for Rowe. The town separately operates a municipal fiber broadband network through WiredWest.
How far is Rowe from Greenfield?
Rowe is about 23 miles from Greenfield, roughly a 35-40 minute drive.
Is there public water or sewer in Rowe?
No. Rowe has no public water or sewer system; homes use private wells and septic systems.
Towns near Rowe
Neighbors of Rowe, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Rowe, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Rowe, MA - Contact: rowe-ma.gov
- Town of Rowe, MA - Municipal Light Plant: rowe-ma.gov
- Massachusetts Electric Company (National Grid) service territory list: nationalgridus.com
- Adams Mountain, Mill Pond and Town Common 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: ToddC4176, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.