Wenham center
138 Main Street, Wenham, MA 01984
Living in Wenham, Massachusetts
Wenham is a small town in Essex County on Massachusetts' North Shore, settled in 1635 and incorporated in 1643. It centers on Main Street around the Wenham Museum and the 1690 Claflin-Richards House, with Wenham Lake, which the town shares with Beverly, forming its southeastern edge.
Wenham at a glance
- $15.99Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $16,164Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 12-15 minDrive to Salem
- EssexCounty
Wenham's zip code
The whole town uses ZIP code 01984.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Wenham center | 01984 | The town's civic core along Main Street, with Town Hall, the Wenham Museum, the Claflin-Richards House and the public library within a short walk of each other. |
Things to do in Wenham, MA
Start with Wenham Museum and Claflin-Richards House, then 2 more below.
Wenham Museum
A history museum founded in 1922, known for its dollhouse and toy train collections alongside exhibits on Wenham and North Shore history. It occupies a campus that includes the 1690 Claflin-Richards House.
132 Main Street, Wenham, MA
Claflin-Richards House
A saltbox house built around 1690, one of the oldest structures on the North Shore, preserved as part of the Wenham Museum campus.
132 Main Street, Wenham, MA
Wenham Lake
A roughly 320-acre lake shared with Beverly, historically harvested for ice shipped as far as India in the 19th century; today it is a public water supply with limited shoreline access.
Off Route 1A, Wenham, MA
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
A Mass Audubon sanctuary whose southern edge reaches into Wenham, with trails through fields, forest and wetlands along the Ipswich River.
87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA
A little history
Wenham was settled in 1635 and incorporated as a town in 1643, making it one of the older towns on the Massachusetts North Shore.
Wenham Lake ice was harvested commercially in the 19th century and shipped as far as India and England, giving the town an international reputation for its ice trade.
The Claflin-Richards House, built around 1690, is preserved today as part of the Wenham Museum campus on Main Street.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Wenham
Wenham has roughly 300 acres of town parks, playgrounds and conservation land, plus access to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary at its northern edge.
- Pingree ParkA town recreation field near the historic Main Street district.
- Ipswich River Wildlife SanctuaryTrails through fields, woods and wetlands along the Ipswich River, reaching into Wenham's northern edge.
Where to eat in Wenham: restaurants and coffee
2 places in Wenham to try, including restaurant and bakery and bagel shop. No one paid to be listed.
Wenham Tea House
Restaurant and bakery
A restaurant and bakery serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, with a gift shop on site.
4 Monument Street, Wenham, MA
The Bagel Dudes
Bagel shop
A bagel shop on Main Street serving bagels and coffee.
158 Main Street, Wenham, MA
Walkability and getting around Wenham
Wenham's Main Street historic district has sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the museum and the library, but the town has no larger commercial downtown, so most errands require a car.
Drive times
- Salem, about 6 miles12-15 min
- Logan International Airport, about 25 miles35-45 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The MBTA Commuter Rail Newburyport/Rockport Line stops at the Hamilton/Wenham station, with service to Boston's North Station.
Wenham property taxes
Wenham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,599 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $16,164, on an average assessed value of $1,010,911.
Wenham's FY2026 tax rates
$15.99per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.99 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$1,010,911
- Average single-family tax bill$16,164
- 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 | $19.58 |
| FY2023 | $17.35 |
| FY2024 | $15.66 |
| FY2025 | $15.54 |
| FY2026 | $15.99 |
Look up a Wenham property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 978-468-5520
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Wenham
What we check on a Wenham purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, pay-as-you-throw trash.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Essex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Low-lying land around Wenham Lake and the Ipswich River watershed at the town's northern edge falls within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WenhamSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Wenham Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 978-468-5508 to schedule.
Massachusetts 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 Wenham Fire Department to schedule the inspection.
Wenham uses a pay-as-you-throw bag system
Trash goes out in town-specific bags sold at local stores rather than any-bag curbside pickup; recycling is collected weekly in a Casella cart.
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 Wenham?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Wenham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Wenham: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Wenham: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- WaterPublic water through the Wenham Water Department, drawn in part from Wenham Lake
- Trash and recyclingWenham runs a pay-as-you-throw program: residents buy 16-gallon and 33-gallon trash bags at local stores, and a Casella recycling cart is collected curbside alongside trash.
- 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
Wenham Town Hall is at 138 Main Street, Wenham, MA 01984. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; closed Friday. Main line: 978-468-5520.
- Town HallMain line and website978-468-5520
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, elections and dog licenses.978-468-5520
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments.978-468-5520
- Treasurer & Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.978-468-5520
- Building/PermittingBuilding permits and inspections.978-468-5520
- Planning BoardZoning, subdivisions and land-use applications.978-468-5520
- Department of Public WorksRoads, trash and recycling, and water infrastructure.978-468-5520
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections, well regulations and health permits.978-468-5520
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention, suppression and inspections.978-468-5508
- Police DepartmentNon-emergency police services.978-468-5500
- Recreation DepartmentTown recreation programs and fields.978-468-2178
- Hamilton-Wenham Public LibraryThe town's public library.978-468-5535
- Hamilton-Wenham Regional School DistrictThe regional school district serving Wenham and Hamilton.
Wenham, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Wenham, MA?
Wenham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.99 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 Wenham?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,396 a year at $15.99 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Wenham have a split tax rate?
No. Wenham uses a single rate of $15.99 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Wenham?
The average single-family tax bill in Wenham was $16,164 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,010,911.
What ZIP code does Wenham use?
The whole town uses ZIP code 01984.
Is trash pickup curbside in Wenham?
Yes, but Wenham uses a pay-as-you-throw system: residents buy 16-gallon or 33-gallon town trash bags at local stores, and recycling is collected curbside in a Casella cart.
Who supplies electricity in Wenham?
National Grid supplies electricity in Wenham.
Is there a train station near Wenham?
Yes. The MBTA Commuter Rail Newburyport/Rockport Line stops at the Hamilton/Wenham station.
How far is Wenham from Salem?
Wenham is about 6 miles from Salem, roughly a 12-to-15-minute drive.
Towns near Wenham
Neighbors of Wenham, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Wenham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Wenham Museum - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Claflin-Richards House - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Wenham, MA official website: wenhamma.gov
- Public Works - Wenham, MA: wenhamma.gov
- Town of Wenham Directory: wenhamma.gov
- 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.
- Checked September 25, 2026.