First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Plymouth County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town in Plymouth County on the north shore of Buzzards Bay, settled in 1678 and incorporated in 1739. It is nicknamed the "Gateway to Cape Cod" for its position where several rivers, including the Weweantic, Wankinco, Agawam and Wareham rivers, meet the bay.
Wareham at a glance
- $8.56Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,087Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 25-30 minDrive to New Bedford
- PlymouthCounty
Wareham's villages and zip codes
Wareham's villages use separate ZIP codes: 02571 (Wareham center), 02558 (Onset), 02538 (East Wareham) and 02576 (West Wareham).
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Wareham center | 02571 | The town's main village around Main Street and Memorial Town Hall. |
| Onset | 02558 | A coastal village on Onset Bay, developed in the 1880s as a Spiritualist summer camp meeting and known today for Onset Beach and its historic cottage colony. |
| East Wareham | 02538 | A village east of the town center along Route 6. |
| West Wareham | 02576 | A village in the western part of town near Route 28 and the Wankinco River. |
Things to do in Wareham, MA
Start with Tremont Nail Factory Historic District and Onset Beach, then 2 more below.
Tremont Nail Factory Historic District
The site of the Tremont Nail Company, established in 1819 and among the oldest nail manufacturers in the United States, with surviving mill buildings on the Weweantic River.
Elm Street, Wareham, MA
Onset Beach
A public beach on Onset Bay in the village of Onset, with a bandstand and views across the harbor.
Onset Avenue, Onset, MA
Water Wizz
A water park on Cranberry Highway that has operated in Wareham since the 1980s, with slides and pools for the summer season.
Cranberry Highway (Route 28), Wareham, MA
Onset Bay Spiritualist cottages
A historic cottage colony built in the 1880s for visitors to Onset's Spiritualist summer camp meetings, still standing along the village's narrow streets.
Onset, MA
A little history
Wareham was first settled in 1678 and incorporated as a town in 1739, taking its name from Wareham, Dorset, England.
The Tremont Nail Factory was established in Wareham in 1819 and is counted among the oldest nail manufacturers in the country.
Onset was developed starting in the 1880s as a summer camp meeting ground for Spiritualists, drawing visitors from Boston, Taunton and Brockton and leaving a distinctive cottage colony still standing today.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Wareham
Wareham's outdoor recreation centers on Buzzards Bay and the rivers and ponds that run through town, including the Weweantic, Wankinco and Agawam rivers.
- Onset BeachA bayfront public beach in the village of Onset.
- Buzzards Bay shorelineCoastal access points along the town's Buzzards Bay frontage.
- Wankinco and Weweantic riversRiver access used for fishing and paddling in western and northern Wareham.
Where to eat in Wareham: restaurants and coffee
1 places in Wareham to try, including mixed dining. No one paid to be listed.
Wareham center and Onset dining
Mixed dining
Restaurants are spread across Wareham's village centers, with a concentration of seasonal, bay-facing options in Onset.
Walkability and getting around Wareham
Onset village and Wareham center have sidewalks and a walkable grid near the water, but Route 6 and Route 28 corridors that connect the town's villages are built for driving.
Drive times
- New Bedford, about 18 miles25-30 min
- Logan International Airport, about 55 miles60-75 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The seasonal CapeFLYER train, run by the MBTA and the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, stops at Wareham Village station on its Boston–Hyannis route in summer; GATRA operates local bus routes through town; the nearest year-round MBTA commuter rail station is in Middleborough.
Wareham property taxes
Wareham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $8.56 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $856 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,087, on an average assessed value of $477,438.
Wareham's FY2026 tax rates
$8.56per $1,000, residential
- Residential$8.56 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$477,438
- Average single-family tax bill$4,087
- 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 | $10.87 |
| FY2023 | $9.92 |
| FY2024 | $9.23 |
| FY2025 | $8.55 |
| FY2026 | $8.56 |
Look up a Wareham property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-291-3160
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Wareham
What we check on a Wareham purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zones, smoke & co certificate.
Check the flood zone first
Wareham's shoreline on Buzzards Bay and Onset Bay, plus the Weweantic, Wankinco, Wareham and Agawam rivers running through town, put low-lying coastal and riverside parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones, particularly in Onset and along the bay. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WarehamSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Wareham Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-291-3100 to schedule.
Wareham Fire Department pageCheck FEMA flood maps near Buzzards Bay and Onset Bay
Wareham's Buzzards Bay and Onset Bay shoreline, plus the rivers feeding into it, put coastal and low-lying parcels in FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer in Onset or along the bay.
A fire department inspection is required before closing
Massachusetts law requires a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance inspection from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Wareham Fire Department to schedule.
Wareham Fire DepartmentAll 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 Wareham?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Wareham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Wareham: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Wareham: Eversource (delivery), with a Wareham Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply for power.
- ElectricEversource (delivery), with a Wareham Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply
- WaterWareham Water District (municipal water district separate from town government)
- Sewer or septicWareham Sewer Department, operating a wastewater treatment facility serving sewered areas of town
- Trash and recyclingWareham offers an optional curbside collection subscription (weekly trash, biweekly recycling) billed annually, plus a Pay-As-You-Throw transfer station for residents who don't subscribe to curbside; curbside subscribers get transfer station stickers at no extra cost.
- 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
Wareham Transfer Station
95 Charge Pond Road, Wareham, MA
$125 per year for a sticker if not subscribed to curbside collection
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Wareham Town Hall is at 54 Marion Road, Wareham, MA 02571. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:15 am-6 pm; Tuesday 8:15 am-6:30 pm. Main line: 508-291-3100.
- Town HallMain line and website508-291-3100
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.508-291-3140
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.508-291-3160
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.508-291-3150
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic permits and inspections, and other health matters.508-291-3100 ext. 3197
- Fire DepartmentFire suppression, emergency response, and residential smoke/CO alarm inspections for home sales.508-291-3100
- Sewer DepartmentTown sewer connections and billing.
Wareham, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Wareham, MA?
Wareham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $8.56 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 Wareham?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,424 a year at $8.56 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Wareham have a split tax rate?
No. Wareham uses a single rate of $8.56 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Wareham?
The average single-family tax bill in Wareham was $4,087 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $477,438.
Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Wareham?
Both are available. Wareham offers an optional paid curbside subscription with weekly trash and biweekly recycling, and a Pay-As-You-Throw transfer station on Charge Pond Road for residents who don't subscribe to curbside.
Who supplies electricity in Wareham?
Eversource delivers electricity in Wareham and handles outages and repairs; the town also runs a Wareham Community Electricity Aggregation program for supply pricing.
What ZIP codes does Wareham use?
Wareham's villages each have their own ZIP code: 02571 for Wareham center, 02558 for Onset, 02538 for East Wareham and 02576 for West Wareham.
Is there train service in Wareham?
The seasonal CapeFLYER stops at Wareham Village station in summer on its Boston-Hyannis route. Year-round MBTA commuter rail service is available from Middleborough.
How far is Wareham from New Bedford and Boston?
Wareham is about 18 miles east of New Bedford and about 55 miles south-southeast of Boston.
What is the smoke/CO certificate process for selling a home in Wareham?
Massachusetts requires a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm inspection from the local fire department before a sale can close. Schedule it with the Wareham Fire Department.
Towns near Wareham
Neighbors of Wareham, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Wareham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Onset, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Wareham official website: wareham.gov
- Trash Services - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Community Electricity - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Sewer Department - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Health Department - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Wareham Fire Department - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Town Clerk - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Assessors Department - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Treasurer/Collector - Town of Wareham: wareham.gov
- Wareham MA Gateway 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.