Wales
3 Hollow Rd, Wales, MA 01081
Living in Wales, Massachusetts
Wales is a rural town in southeastern Hampden County, Massachusetts, on the Connecticut border, about 15.9 square miles in area. It was incorporated in 1775 as South Brimfield and renamed Wales in 1828 after local benefactor James Lawrence Wales. Massachusetts Route 19 is the main road through town.
Wales at a glance
- $14.13Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,588Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- HampdenCounty
- 1775Year incorporated
Wales's zip code
Wales uses a single ZIP code, 01081, for the entire town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | 01081 | Town center |
Things to do in Wales, MA
Start with Old Town Hall and Wales Public Library, then 1 more below.
Old Town Hall
A historic town hall building in Wales center. It appears in the town's own photo galleries as a local landmark.
Wales center
Wales Public Library
The town's public library, which opened in 1897 and belongs to the C/W MARS library consortium.
Wales center
Plan a visit to Wales Public Library (opens in a new tab)Pioneer Cemetery
A cemetery dating to the town's early settlement period, noted on the town's history pages.
Wales
A little history
Wales was incorporated in 1775 as South Brimfield and renamed Wales in 1828 after local benefactor James Lawrence Wales.
The area was first settled by Europeans in 1726; early settlers included Anthony Needham, John Bullen, and Samuel and Dorothy Munger.
The Wales Public Library opened in 1897.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Wales
Wales maintains a few small town-run parks and pond-side beach access points through its Parks Commission.
- Union Road BeachA town beach on a pond at 10 Union Road, with parking available across the street at 9 Union Road. It is managed by the Wales Parks Commission.More information
- Sichols Colony Boulevard BeachA second town beach access point on Sichols Colony Boulevard, maintained by the Wales Parks Commission.More information
- George A. Needham Memorial ParkA town park named for the Needham family, among the town's earliest European settlers in 1726.More information
Walkability and getting around Wales
Wales is a rural town without a sidewalk network in most areas; Route 19 is the main through road.
Drive times
- Springfield
- Bradley International Airport
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
No fixed-route public transit serves Wales; there is no PVTA bus route or passenger rail station in town.
Wales property taxes
Wales's most recent certified residential tax rate is $14.13 per $1,000 of assessed value, for FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026). Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,413 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,588, on an average assessed value of $324,729.
Wales's FY2026 tax rates
$14.13per $1,000, residential
- Residential$14.13 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$324,729
- Average single-family tax bill$4,588
- 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 | $18.52 |
| FY2023 | $17.06 |
| FY2024 | $14.77 |
| FY2025 | $14.42 |
| FY2026 | $14.13 |
Look up a Wales 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: 413-245-7571 ext. 103
- Hampden County Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Wales
Things to look into on a Wales purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, water & septic, trash.
MassHousing home loans
MassHousing sets income limits by community, and they depend on household size and loan program. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans (opens in a new tab)Check the flood zone first
Wales' Planning Board maintains a Flood Plain/FEMA NFIP information page. We check the FEMA flood map for a specific property before you make an offer. We take an early look at FEMA's map before you offer. That's not a flood determination: the official determination ordered with your loan decides whether flood insurance is required.
FEMA's flood map for Wales (opens in a new tab)Smoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Wales Fire Department before the sale closes.
Wales Fire Department page (opens in a new tab)Ask about foundation testing
The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Wales among the towns most at risk (within 20 miles) of the Connecticut concrete plant that distributed pyrrhotite-affected concrete, based on the 2019 state Special Commission report. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.
UMass pyrrhotite guide (opens in a new tab)Private wells and septic systems
Wales' Board of Health maintains separate information pages for private wells and septic systems, consistent with a town that has no municipal water or sewer service. Confirm well and septic status, and any required Title 5 inspection, during due diligence.
Wales Board of Health (opens in a new tab)No curbside pickup
Wales does not offer curbside trash collection. Residents use the town Transfer Station at 60 Hollow Road (Wednesdays 4-7 pm, Saturdays 9 am-noon) with an annual permit purchased at Town Offices.
Transfer Station details (opens in a new tab)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 Wales?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Wales address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Wales: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Wales.
- WaterPrivate wells; no municipal water system (see the Wales Board of Health's Well Information page).
- Sewer or septicPrivate septic systems; no municipal sewer system (see the Wales Board of Health's Septic Information page).
- Trash and recyclingWales has no curbside trash collection. Residents bring waste to the town Transfer Station at 60 Hollow Road, open Wednesdays 4-7 pm and Saturdays 9 am-noon, with a valid annual permit required for admittance.
- 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
Wales Transfer Station
60 Hollow Road, Wales, MA 01081 Wednesday 4-7 pm; Saturday 9 am-noon
Annual permit (FY27 sticker) required; sold at Town Offices, 3 Hollow Road, Monday-Thursday 9 am-3 pm. See the Transfer Station page for current sticker rates.
Transfer station details (opens in a new tab)Town Hall offices and contacts
Wales Town Hall is at 3 Hollow Rd, Wales, MA 01081. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Main line: 413-245-7571.
- Town HallMain line and website413-245-7571
- Town ClerkVital records, elections, licensing.413-245-7571
- Board of AssessorsProperty assessment and exemption applications.413-245-7571 ext. 103
- Tax CollectorReal estate, personal property, and motor vehicle excise tax bills.413-245-7571
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.413-245-7571
- Planning BoardLand use planning and zoning bylaws; see also the Zoning Board of Appeals.413-245-7571
- Board of HealthWell and septic system information, permits, and inspections.413-245-7571
- Fire DepartmentFire safety, burn permits, and smoke/CO detector inspections.413-245-7571
- Transfer StationTown trash and recycling drop-off; permit required.413-245-7571
- Wales Public LibraryPublic library, part of the C/W MARS consortium.
- Parks CommissionOversees town parks and beach access points.
- Tantasqua Regional School DistrictRegional school district serving Wales for grades 7-12; Wales Elementary serves grades K-6.
Wales, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Wales, MA?
Wales's most recent certified residential tax rate is $14.13 per $1,000 of assessed value, for FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026). Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Wales?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,652 a year at $14.13 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Wales have a split tax rate?
No. Wales uses a single rate of $14.13 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Wales?
The average single-family tax bill in Wales was $4,588 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $324,729.
What ZIP code does Wales, MA use?
Wales uses a single ZIP code, 01081, for the entire town.
Does Wales have curbside trash pickup?
No. Wales has no curbside collection; residents bring trash to the town Transfer Station at 60 Hollow Road, open Wednesdays 4-7 pm and Saturdays 9 am-noon, with a paid annual permit.
Is there public transit in Wales?
Wales has no fixed-route public transit service; there is no PVTA bus route or passenger rail station in town.
What school district serves Wales?
Wales Elementary School serves grades K-6; students in grades 7-12 attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, part of the Tantasqua Regional School District.
Does Wales have municipal water and sewer?
No. The town's Board of Health pages cover private wells and septic systems, and there is no municipal water or sewer system serving Wales.
Towns near Wales
Neighbors of Wales, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Wales, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- File:Old Town Hall, Wales MA.jpg - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0, John Phelan): commons.wikimedia.org
- Town of Wales, MA - official website: townofwales.net
- Town of Wales sitemap: townofwales.net
- Board of Assessors - Town of Wales: townofwales.net
- Assessor Forms and Documents - Town of Wales: townofwales.net
- Transfer Station - Town of Wales: townofwales.net
- Union Road Beach - Town of Wales: townofwales.net
- 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® ratings, provided live by Walk Score. Addresses are located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
- Checked September 25, 2026.