First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Upton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in the Blackstone Valley, about 13 miles south-southeast of Worcester. First settled by Europeans in 1728 and incorporated in 1735, it grew around Central Square, now the Upton Center Historic District, and its economy once ran on shoe manufacturing and the Knowlton Hat Factory. Upton State Forest, more than 2,700 acres, covers a large share of the town's northern half.
Upton at a glance
- $13.08Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $8,759Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- WorcesterCounty
- 1735Year incorporated
Upton's villages and zip codes
Upton mainly uses ZIP code 01568; some addresses near the Milford line use 01757.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Upton center | 01568 | Around Central Square, at Main, North Main, Milford, Grove, Church and Warren streets, where Town Hall and the historic district are located. |
| Forest Green | 01568 | A locally known area in northwestern Upton near Warren Brook. |
Things to do in Upton, MA
Start with Upton State Forest and Upton Center Historic District, then 1 more below.
Upton State Forest
A roughly 2,790-acre state forest with trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, plus fishing and picnicking. It holds the last remaining Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Massachusetts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a grove of 1930s Sawara cypress trees.
Upton, MA
Upton Center Historic District
A 73-acre historic district around Central Square with the 1884 Town Hall and three mid-19th-century churches, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Central Square, Upton, MA
Dean Pond
A 10-acre pond in Upton State Forest behind an earthen dam built during the Civilian Conservation Corps era.
Upton State Forest, Upton, MA
A little history
Upton was first settled by Europeans in 1728 and was incorporated in 1735 after residents petitioned for their own town to attend church services more conveniently.
The town had significant shoe manufacturing between about 1730 and 1850, and later the Knowlton Hat Factory, built in 1872, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Resident Samuel Taft, a Revolutionary War soldier, hosted President George Washington during his 1789 inaugural tour of New England.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Upton
Upton State Forest covers a large part of the town's north side, giving Upton trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding along with Dean Pond and a preserved Civilian Conservation Corps camp.
- Upton State ForestMore than 2,700 acres of multi-use trails, fishing, restricted hunting and picnicking, managed by the state DCR.
- Dean PondA small pond within the state forest built during the Civilian Conservation Corps era.
Walkability and getting around Upton
Upton center around Central Square has sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the churches and nearby homes, but most of the town, including the roads around Upton State Forest, is built for driving.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 13 miles
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Upton has no confirmed fixed-route public transit and no train station; Worcester, about 13 miles northwest, is the nearest hub for regional bus and rail service.
Upton property taxes
Upton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.08 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,308 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $8,759, on an average assessed value of $669,660.
Upton's FY2026 tax rates
$13.08per $1,000, residential
- Residential$13.08 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$669,660
- Average single-family tax bill$8,759
- 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 | $16.77 |
| FY2023 | $13.87 |
| FY2024 | $13.68 |
| FY2025 | $13.15 |
| FY2026 | $13.08 |
Look up a Upton property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-529-1002
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Upton
What we check on a Upton purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, historic district.
Check the flood zone first
Warren Brook and the ponds within Upton State Forest put some low-lying parcels in Upton within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for UptonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Upton Fire/EMS Department before the sale closes. Call 508-529-3421 to schedule.
Upton Fire/EMS Department pageMany parcels use private wells and septic
Public water and sewer are limited and expanding gradually through the Governor's Landing project, so many Upton properties still rely on private wells and septic systems. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection before a home on septic can be sold.
Exterior work may need review near Central Square
Homes in the Upton Center Historic District around Central Square can be subject to added review for exterior changes; check with the Planning Board before planning renovations.
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 Upton?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Upton address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Upton: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Upton: A Community Choice Power Supply Program (through First Point Power) is offered in Upton as an alternative electricity supply option for power.
- ElectricA Community Choice Power Supply Program (through First Point Power) is offered in Upton as an alternative electricity supply option
- Sewer or septicThe Governor's Landing Water/Sewer Project has been underway to extend service in parts of town; other parcels rely on private wells and septic systems
- Trash and recyclingUpton runs a town curbside trash and recycling program through hauler E.L. Harvey, using town-supplied 96, 64 or 32-gallon carts. Trash must go in official Upton trash bags ($20 for a roll of 10 thirty-gallon bags, $13 for a roll of 10 fifteen-gallon bags), sold at local stores, the Board of Health office and the Town Library; recyclables can be commingled in a resident-provided bin.
- 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
Upton Town Hall is at 1 Main St, Upton, MA 01568. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8am-4pm; Tuesday 8am-6pm; Friday 8am-noon. Main line: 508-529-3001.
- Town HallMain line and website508-529-3001
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.508-529-3565
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.508-529-1002
- Collector/TreasurerProperty tax billing and payment.508-529-3737
- Code Enforcement/BuildingBuilding permits and inspections.508-529-2633
- Planning Board/ZoningZoning and land-use applications.508-529-1008
- RecreationTown recreation programs.774-450-5182
- Department of Public WorksRoads and town infrastructure.508-529-3067
- Upton Town LibraryThe town's public library, now part of the Community Center.508-529-6272
- Fire/EMS DepartmentFire prevention, inspections and permits.508-529-3421
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, wells and trash program administration.508-529-6813
- Mendon-Upton Regional School DistrictThe regional school district serving Upton and Mendon.
Upton, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Upton, MA?
Upton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.08 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 Upton?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,232 a year at $13.08 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Upton have a split tax rate?
No. Upton uses a single rate of $13.08 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Upton?
The average single-family tax bill in Upton was $8,759 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $669,660.
What county is Upton, MA in?
Upton is in Worcester County.
What ZIP code does Upton use?
Upton mainly uses 01568; some addresses near Milford use 01757.
Does Upton have curbside trash pickup?
Yes, through hauler E.L. Harvey, using town-supplied carts and official Upton trash bags.
What school district serves Upton?
The Mendon-Upton Regional School District.
How far is Upton from Worcester?
About 13 miles.
What's the main outdoor destination in Upton?
Upton State Forest, with more than 2,700 acres of trails, Dean Pond, and a preserved Civilian Conservation Corps camp.
Towns near Upton
Neighbors of Upton, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Upton, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Upton State Forest - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Upton Center Historic District - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Upton, MA - Official Website: uptonma.gov
- Town Departments Directory - Upton, MA: uptonma.gov
- Upton's Curbside Pickup Program - Trash and Recycling Rules, Upton, MA: uptonma.gov
- Upton 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: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.