First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Barnstable County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich sits at the northern gateway to Cape Cod on Cape Cod Bay, and is generally described as the oldest town on the Cape, incorporated in 1639. Its historic village center is built around Shawme Pond, with a working 17th-century grist mill and a boardwalk over the marsh to Town Neck Beach. The town's western section split off in 1884 to become Bourne.
Sandwich at a glance
- $10.19Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $7,818Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 70-90 minDrive to Boston
- BarnstableCounty
Sandwich's villages and zip codes
Sandwich village, East Sandwich and Forestdale each have their own ZIP code.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwich village | 02563 | The historic town center around Shawme Pond, Town Hall and Main Street. |
| East Sandwich | 02537 | A shoreline section along Cape Cod Bay east of the town center. |
| Forestdale | 02644 | An inland village in the southern part of town. |
Things to do in Sandwich, MA
Start with Heritage Museums & Gardens and Sandwich Glass Museum, then 3 more below.
Heritage Museums & Gardens
A 100-plus-acre museum and garden campus with a working 1912 carousel, an automobile collection, and grounds that include a large rhododendron collection.
67 Grove Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Sandwich Glass Museum
A museum on the history of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, which operated in the village from 1825 to 1888, with glassmaking demonstrations and a collection of period glass.
129 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Dexter Grist Mill
A working 17th-century gristmill on Shawme Pond, described as the oldest mill on Cape Cod, with tours and stone-ground cornmeal for sale in season.
2 Water Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Sandwich Boardwalk
A roughly 1,350-foot wooden boardwalk crossing the marsh from the village to Town Neck Beach on Cape Cod Bay, named among the country's top boardwalks by National Geographic in 2010.
Boardwalk Road, Sandwich, MA 02563
Hoxie House
A saltbox-style house dated to the 1600s and described as the oldest house on Cape Cod, open for tours in season.
18 Water Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
More worth a visit
- Cape Cod Canal Bikeway (Sandwich side)The north-side canal path passes through Sandwich near the Sagamore area, connecting to the same bikeway that runs through Bourne.
A little history
Sandwich was incorporated in 1639 and is generally described as the oldest town on Cape Cod.
The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company operated in the village from 1825 to 1888, and its products are the focus of the Sandwich Glass Museum today.
The town's western section separated in 1884 to form the town of Bourne.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Sandwich
Sandwich's frontage on Cape Cod Bay includes marsh, dunes and a beach reached by the village boardwalk, while inland ponds and conservation land offer additional walking and paddling.
- Town Neck BeachA Cape Cod Bay beach reached from the village via the Sandwich Boardwalk.
- Shawme PondA pond at the center of the historic village, next to the Dexter Grist Mill.
- Talbot's Point Salt Marsh ReserveConservation land along a tidal salt marsh with walking trails.
Where to eat in Sandwich: restaurants and coffee
4 places in Sandwich to try, including restaurant and restaurant and tea room. No one paid to be listed.
Dan'l Webster Inn Restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant in the historic Dan'l Webster Inn in the village center.
149 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Dunbar House Restaurant & Tea Room
Restaurant and tea room
A restaurant near the Dexter Grist Mill serving lunch, afternoon tea and Sunday brunch.
1 Water Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
The Brown Jug
Cafe and specialty food shop
A Main Street cafe and food shop serving wine and wood-fired oven pizza.
155 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563
Fishermen's View
Seafood restaurant
A seafood restaurant overlooking the Cape Cod Canal and marina; Boston Magazine gave it a Best of Boston award.
16 Coast Guard Road, Sandwich, MA 02563
Walkability and getting around Sandwich
The historic village around Shawme Pond and Main Street is walkable, including the boardwalk route to Town Neck Beach, but East Sandwich and Forestdale are spread out along Route 6A and Route 130 and require a car.
Drive times
- Boston, about 57 miles70-90 min
- Barnstable Municipal Airport (Hyannis), about 15 miles20-25 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) serves Sandwich, and the seasonal Cape Cod Central Railroad runs scenic and dinner excursions from Hyannis that pass through town. There is no year-round passenger rail station in Sandwich.
Sandwich property taxes
Sandwich's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,019 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,818, on an average assessed value of $767,178.
Sandwich's FY2026 tax rates
$10.19per $1,000, residential
- Residential$10.19 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$767,178
- Average single-family tax bill$7,818
- 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 | $13.16 |
| FY2023 | $11.50 |
| FY2024 | $10.80 |
| FY2025 | $10.57 |
| FY2026 | $10.19 |
Look up a Sandwich 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 Sandwich
What we check on a Sandwich purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, septic & wells, coastal flood zones.
Check the flood zone first
Sandwich's Cape Cod Bay shoreline, including the marsh crossed by the boardwalk to Town Neck Beach, puts coastal and low-lying areas of the village and East Sandwich in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for SandwichSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Sandwich Fire Department before the sale closes.
Sandwich Fire Department pageMost of town is on septic
Municipal sewer is limited in Sandwich, so most properties rely on septic systems, which require a Title 5 inspection before most home sales. Ask about septic history and, in some areas, private well status early.
Check FEMA flood maps near the bay
Low-lying areas near the marsh, boardwalk and Town Neck Beach along Cape Cod Bay can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a coastal or near-marsh property.
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 Sandwich?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Sandwich address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Sandwich: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Sandwich: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasNo natural gas service confirmed for most of town
- WaterSandwich Water District
- Sewer or septicMost of Sandwich is on private septic systems; municipal sewer is limited.
- Trash and recyclingSandwich uses a Pay-As-You-Throw system: residents buy an annual transfer-station sticker plus town-specific blue trash bags, and bring bagged trash to the Transfer Station rather than having it collected curbside. Standard recyclables are free to drop off.
- 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
Sandwich Transfer Station
500 Route 130, Sandwich, MA 02563
Annual sticker plus Pay-As-You-Throw bags: $1.20 per 30-gallon bag, $0.60 per 15-gallon bag, $0.25 per 8-gallon bag
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Sandwich Town Hall is at 130 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Main line: 508-888-5144.
- Town HallMain line and website508-888-5144
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- AssessingProperty values and assessments.508-888-0157
- Board of Health / Health DepartmentTitle 5 septic, wells and public health regulation.508-888-4200
- Fire DepartmentFire, EMS and smoke-certificate inspections.
- Transfer Station / Public WorksTrash, recycling and Pay-As-You-Throw bag sales.508-833-8002
- Sandwich Public LibraryThe town's public library.508-888-0625
- Sandwich Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Sandwich, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Sandwich, MA?
Sandwich's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.19 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 Sandwich?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,076 a year at $10.19 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Sandwich have a split tax rate?
No. Sandwich uses a single rate of $10.19 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Sandwich?
The average single-family tax bill in Sandwich was $7,818 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $767,178.
What county is Sandwich, MA in?
Sandwich is in Barnstable County, at the Cape Cod Bay entrance to Cape Cod.
What ZIP codes does Sandwich use?
Sandwich village is 02563, East Sandwich is 02537, and Forestdale is 02644.
Does Sandwich have curbside trash pickup?
No. Sandwich uses a Pay-As-You-Throw system: residents buy town trash bags and an annual sticker and bring trash to the Transfer Station on Route 130 rather than having it picked up curbside.
Who supplies electricity in Sandwich?
Eversource is the electric utility serving Sandwich.
Is there a train station in Sandwich?
No year-round passenger rail station; the seasonal Cape Cod Central Railroad runs scenic excursions through town from Hyannis.
How far is Sandwich from Boston?
Sandwich is about 57 miles from Boston, roughly 70-90 minutes by car.
Towns near Sandwich
Neighbors of Sandwich, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Sandwich, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Sandwich official website: sandwichmass.org
- Assessing - Sandwich, MA: sandwichmass.org
- Board of Health - Sandwich, MA: sandwichmass.org
- Fire Department - Sandwich, MA: sandwichmass.org
- Transfer Station - Sandwich, MA: sandwichmass.org
- Sandwich Pay-As-You-Throw FAQs: sandwichmass.org
- Sandwich Public Library: sandwichpubliclibrary.com
- MassDOT utility contacts - Sandwich: hwy.massdot.state.ma.us
- Sandwich Town Hall and church 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: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.