Walpole center
135 School Street, Walpole, MA 02081
Living in Walpole, Massachusetts
Walpole is a town in Norfolk County about 18 miles south of downtown Boston, first settled in 1659 as part of Dedham and incorporated as its own town in 1724, named after Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first prime minister. The town runs its own municipal light department, and East Walpole is home to Francis William Bird Park, an 89-acre John Nolen-designed park built around former mill land on the Neponset River.
Walpole at a glance
- $12.45Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $10,346Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 30-40 minDrive to Boston
- NorfolkCounty
Walpole's villages and zip codes
Walpole uses three ZIP codes: 02081 for Walpole center, 02032 for East Walpole, and 02071 for South Walpole.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Walpole center | 02081 | The town's main village, with Town Hall and the Walpole commuter rail station. |
| East Walpole | 02032 | A village built around former Bird & Son paper mills on the Neponset River, now home to Francis William Bird Park. |
| South Walpole | 02071 | A smaller village in the southern part of town. |
Things to do in Walpole, MA
Start with Francis William Bird Park and Blackburn Hall, then 1 more below.
Francis William Bird Park
An 89-acre landscaped park in East Walpole designed by landscape architect John Nolen and built in 1925 as a memorial by industrialist Charles Sumner Bird Sr. and his wife. It has more than 3 miles of walking and biking paths, granite bridges, rolling meadows, tennis courts and an outdoor stage, and is owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations.
East Walpole, Walpole, MA
Blackburn Hall
A 1932 neo-classical memorial building in Walpole used for civic and community events.
Walpole, MA
Walpole commuter rail station
The town's stop on the MBTA Franklin/Foxboro Line, in the center of town.
Walpole, MA
A little history
Walpole was first settled in 1659 as part of Dedham and was incorporated as its own town in 1724, named for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first prime minister.
Historic mills, including the Bird & Son paper mills, operated along the Neponset River in the East Walpole village.
Francis William Bird Park was created in 1925 by Charles Sumner Bird Sr. and his wife as a memorial to their son, on land designed by landscape architect John Nolen.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Walpole
Walpole's outdoor recreation centers on Francis William Bird Park in East Walpole, with miles of walking and biking paths along the former Bird & Son mill land on the Neponset River.
- Francis William Bird Park89 acres with more than 3 miles of paths, granite bridges and meadows, maintained by The Trustees of Reservations.
Walkability and getting around Walpole
Walpole center, around Town Hall and the commuter rail station, and East Walpole's village near Bird Park both have walkable cores, while most of the town's residential land is built around driving.
East Walpole
South Walpole
Drive times
- Boston, about 18 miles30-40 min
- Logan International Airport, about 26 miles40-50 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The MBTA Franklin/Foxboro Line stops at Walpole station, running to Boston's South Station. MBTA bus route 34E serves parts of downtown.
Walpole property taxes
Walpole's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $16.81. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,245 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $10,346, on an average assessed value of $831,005.
Walpole's FY2026 tax rates
$12.45per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.45 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$16.81 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$831,005
- Average single-family tax bill$10,346
- 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 | $14.46 |
| FY2023 | $13.89 |
| FY2024 | $13.22 |
| FY2025 | $12.83 |
| FY2026 | $12.45 |
Look up a Walpole 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: 508-660-7315
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Walpole
What we check on a Walpole purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, municipal electric utility.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Norfolk County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
The Neponset River runs through East Walpole near former mill sites, putting low-lying parcels along the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WalpoleSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Walpole Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-668-0260 to schedule.
Walpole Fire Department pageMassachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing
Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Walpole Fire Department to schedule the inspection.
Walpole Fire DepartmentWalpole runs its own electric utility
The Walpole Municipal Light Department, not an investor-owned company like Eversource, supplies electricity in town. New owners should set up service directly with the Light Department.
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 Walpole?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Walpole address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Walpole: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Walpole: Walpole Municipal Light Department for power.
- ElectricWalpole Municipal Light Department
- WaterWalpole Board of Sewer and Water Commissioners
- Sewer or septicWalpole Board of Sewer and Water Commissioners
- Trash and recyclingWalpole collects trash and recycling curbside on a set schedule by street, with holiday schedule adjustments and a published recycling calendar. Residents can reach the Health Department for specifics on trash collection rules.
- 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
Walpole Town Hall is at 135 School Street, Walpole, MA 02081. Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 8am-4pm; Tue 8am-8pm; Fri 8am-noon. Main line: 508-660-7300.
- Town HallMain line and website508-660-7300
- Town ClerkVital records, elections and voter registration.508-660-7296
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.508-660-7315
- Building Department (Inspectional Services)Building permits and inspections.508-660-6348
- Planning BoardZoning, land use and planning applications.508-660-7251
- Recreation CommitteeTown recreation programs.508-660-6353
- Department of Public WorksRoads, trash and recycling.508-660-7305
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention, inspections and emergency response.508-668-0260
- Board of HealthSeptic system (Title 5) review, health permits and inspections.508-660-7321
- Walpole Public LibraryThe town's public library.
- Walpole Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
Walpole, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Walpole, MA?
Walpole's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $16.81. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Walpole?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,980 a year at $12.45 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Walpole have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $12.45 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $16.81.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Walpole?
The average single-family tax bill in Walpole was $10,346 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $831,005.
Who supplies electricity in Walpole?
The Walpole Municipal Light Department, the town's own electric utility, supplies electricity.
What ZIP codes does Walpole use?
Walpole center uses 02081, East Walpole uses 02032, and South Walpole uses 02071.
Is there a train to Boston from Walpole?
Yes. The MBTA Franklin/Foxboro Line stops at Walpole station, running to Boston's South Station.
Is trash pickup curbside in Walpole?
Yes. Walpole collects trash and recycling curbside on a schedule by street, with a published holiday schedule and recycling calendar.
What is Francis William Bird Park?
An 89-acre landscaped park in East Walpole, designed by John Nolen and built in 1925, with more than 3 miles of paths, granite bridges and meadows, maintained by The Trustees of Reservations.
Towns near Walpole
Neighbors of Walpole, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Walpole, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Francis William Bird Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Walpole official website: walpole-ma.gov
- Solid Waste & Recycling - Walpole, MA: walpole-ma.gov
- Staff Directory - Walpole, MA: walpole-ma.gov
- Main Street looking south, Walpole MA 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.