Living in Swansea, Massachusetts

Swansea is a town on Mount Hope Bay in the southwestern corner of Bristol County, between Fall River and the Rhode Island line. It was incorporated in 1667, making it one of the oldest towns in the region, and its Main Street corridor through Swansea Village is a designated historic district. The Cole, Kickemuit, Palmer and Lees rivers cross the town on their way to Mount Hope Bay and Narragansett Bay.

Swansea Village Ocean Grove Hortonville Touisset

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

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

Swansea at a glance

$11.36Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$5,623Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
BristolCounty
1667Year incorporated

Swansea's villages and zip codes

Swansea uses a single ZIP code, 02777, for the whole town.

Swansea villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Swansea Village	02777	Along Main Street, the town's historic center, home to Town Hall and the library.
Ocean Grove	02777	A shore neighborhood on Mount Hope Bay, home to the town beach on Ocean Grove Avenue.
Hortonville	02777	A section in the northern part of town.
Touisset	02777	A section along the Kickemuit River in the southern part of town.

Things to do in Swansea, MA

Start with Swansea Town Beach and East Bay Bike Path, then 2 more below.

Swansea Town Beach
A town beach on Ocean Grove Avenue on Mount Hope Bay, with a bathhouse offering restrooms, changing areas and outdoor showers, plus a nearby playground.
Seasonal
Ocean Grove Ave, Swansea, MA
East Bay Bike Path
A paved multi-use path that runs from Providence, RI through the East Bay to Bristol, RI, with access points on Swansea's western side.
FreeYear-round
Off Route 6/Wilbur Ave near the Rhode Island line
Swansea Village Historic District
A historic district along Main Street from Gardners Neck Road to Stephens Road, with 18th- and 19th-century buildings including Town Hall.
FreeYear-round
Main St, Swansea, MA
Silver Stone Castle
An indoor family entertainment center in a medieval-themed building, with arcade games and party space.
Year-round
Swansea, MA

More worth a visit

Burr's Hill ParkA town park with fields and play space.
Swansea Memorial ParkA town park with recreational fields.

A little history

Swansea was incorporated on March 5, 1667, taking its name from Swansea, Wales, the home of some original settlers.

In 1667 the first Baptist church in Massachusetts relocated to Swansea from Rehoboth after facing religious intolerance there.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Swansea

Swansea's shoreline on Mount Hope Bay and its river network give it beach access, tidal fishing spots and a section of the regional East Bay Bike Path.

Swansea Town BeachTown beach on Mount Hope Bay with a bathhouse and playground.
East Bay Bike PathPaved regional trail connecting toward Providence and Bristol, RI.
Cole and Kickemuit RiversTidal rivers running through town toward Mount Hope Bay, used for fishing and paddling.

Where to eat in Swansea: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Swansea to try, including restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Red's Kitchen
Restaurant
A restaurant on Market Street serving breakfast and lunch.
29 Market St, Swansea, MA 02777

Walkability and getting around Swansea

Swansea Village along Main Street has sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the library and nearby shops, but most of the town, including its shoreline neighborhoods, is built for driving.

Drive times

Providence, RI, about 12 miles

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Swansea has no fixed-route public bus service or train station; the East Bay Bike Path provides a car-free route toward Providence, RI and Bristol, RI.

Swansea property taxes

Swansea's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.36 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.95. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,136 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,623, on an average assessed value of $494,954.

Swansea's FY2026 tax rates

$11.36per $1,000, residential

Residential$11.36 per $1,000
Commercial, industrial, personal property$17.95 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$494,954
Average single-family tax bill$5,623
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Swansea has a separate Water District tax assessed on top of the town's residential and commercial/industrial rates, on properties within the district.

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	$13.05
FY2023	$12.05
FY2024	$11.04
FY2025	$10.98
FY2026	$11.36

Look up a Swansea property

Property record cardsAssessed value, lot size and building details
FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
Town ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-678-2981
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Swansea

What we check on a Swansea purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zone, water district tax.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Bristol County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Shoreline areas along Mount Hope Bay and low-lying land along the Cole, Kickemuit, Palmer and Lees rivers fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Swansea

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Swansea Fire Department before the sale closes.

Swansea Fire Department page

Coastal flood zone

Check flood maps near Mount Hope Bay

Shoreline neighborhoods such as Ocean Grove sit along Mount Hope Bay and can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the water.

Water district tax

A separate water district tax applies in parts of town

Properties within the Swansea Water District pay an additional tax on top of the town's base rate. Ask the assessor's office whether a specific property falls inside the district.

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 Swansea?

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

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

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Swansea: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Swansea: National Grid, with a town-run Community Electricity Aggregation program residents can opt into for power.

ElectricNational Grid, with a town-run Community Electricity Aggregation program residents can opt into
WaterSwansea Water District
Sewer or septicSewer Commission service in parts of town; other areas rely on septic systems
Trash and recyclingSwansea uses a pay-as-you-throw system with an annual base fee plus purchased trash bags, alongside single-stream recycling with wheeled totes; the town is divided into five weekly pickup sections, Monday through Friday.
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

Swansea Town Hall is at 81 Main St, Swansea, MA 02777. Main line: 508-678-2981.

Swansea, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Swansea, MA?

Swansea's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.36 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.95. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Swansea?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,544 a year at $11.36 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Swansea have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $11.36 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $17.95.

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

The average single-family tax bill in Swansea was $5,623 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $494,954.

What county is Swansea, MA in?

Swansea is in Bristol County.

What ZIP code does Swansea use?

Swansea uses a single ZIP code, 02777, for the whole town.

Does Swansea have curbside trash pickup?

Yes. Swansea uses a pay-as-you-throw system with an annual fee plus purchased bags, and single-stream recycling, collected weekly on one of five area schedules.

Who supplies electricity in Swansea?

National Grid delivers electricity in Swansea, and the town also runs a Community Electricity Aggregation program residents can opt into.

How far is Swansea from Providence, RI?

Swansea is about 12 miles from Providence, Rhode Island.

Which towns border Swansea?

Swansea borders Dighton, Somerset, Seekonk and Rehoboth in Massachusetts, and Warren and Barrington in Rhode Island.

Towns near Swansea

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

Sources

Swansea, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Town of Swansea, MA official website: swanseama.gov
Solid Waste and Recycling - Swansea, MA: swanseama.gov
Board of Assessors - Swansea, MA: swanseama.gov
Swansea Community Electricity Aggregation - masscea.com: masscea.com
Vision Government Solutions property database, Swansea MA: gis.vgsi.com
Swansea Town Hall 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: T.S. Custadio (ToddC4176), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.