West Boylston center
140 Worcester Street, West Boylston, MA 01583
Living in West Boylston, Massachusetts
West Boylston is a town in Worcester County directly north of the city of Worcester, settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1808 out of a dispute between Boylston and West Boylston over where to locate a new meeting house. The Wachusett Reservoir, built for Boston's water supply, dominates the town's landscape: its construction in 1897 flooded 6.5 square miles and displaced about 1,700 residents, reshaping the town's geography permanently.
West Boylston at a glance
- $14.53Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $7,621Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-20 minDrive to Worcester
- WorcesterCounty
West Boylston's villages and zip codes
West Boylston's main village uses ZIP code 01583; a small section of town along the Worcester line uses 01606.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| West Boylston center | 01583 | The town's main village, where Town Hall and the Beaman Memorial Public Library are located. |
| Oakdale | A village section of town along Route 140. |
Things to do in West Boylston, MA
Start with Wachusett Reservoir and Old Stone Church, then 1 more below.
Wachusett Reservoir
A large public water-supply reservoir built in 1897-1908 for the city of Boston, with shoreline access roads and views over the water. The reservoir's construction flooded 6.5 square miles of the original town center.
Along Route 12 and the Worcester line
Old Stone Church
A former Congregational church built of Rattlesnake Hill granite in the 1890s, left standing at the edge of the reservoir when the surrounding village was flooded. It is one of the most photographed sites near the Wachusett Reservoir.
Route 12, West Boylston, MA
Beaman Memorial Public Library
The town's public library, established in 1878, with regular programming and a children's room.
8 Newton Street, West Boylston, MA 01583
Plan a visit
A little history
The area was settled by Europeans in 1642 as part of Boylston, and West Boylston was incorporated as a separate town in 1808 after a dispute over the location of a new town meeting house.
In 1897 the Nashua River in neighboring Clinton was impounded by the Wachusett Dam to supply water to Boston, flooding about 6.5 square miles of West Boylston and displacing roughly 1,700 residents and numerous buildings.
Robert Bailey Thomas, founder of the Old Farmer's Almanac, was a resident of West Boylston.
Parks, trails and outdoors in West Boylston
The Wachusett Reservoir shapes most of West Boylston's outdoor recreation, from shoreline roads and overlooks to fishing access.
- Wachusett ReservoirShoreline roads and overlooks around the reservoir, with fishing permitted under Massachusetts DCR watershed rules.
- Quinapoxet and Stillwater riversRivers feeding the reservoir at the north end of town, used for fishing.
Walkability and getting around West Boylston
West Boylston center has sidewalks around Town Hall, the library and nearby businesses along Route 12 and Route 140, but most of the town is built for driving, especially the residential roads near the reservoir.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 8 miles15-20 min
- Worcester Regional Airport, about 10 miles20-25 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
West Boylston has no passenger rail station; the nearest is Union Station in Worcester. Local bus service in the area is provided by the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA).
West Boylston property taxes
West Boylston's FY2026 residential tax rate is $14.53 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,453 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,621, on an average assessed value of $524,514.
West Boylston's FY2026 tax rates
$14.53per $1,000, residential
- Residential$14.53 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$524,514
- Average single-family tax bill$7,621
- 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 | $17.68 |
| FY2023 | $15.58 |
| FY2024 | $14.78 |
| FY2025 | $13.87 |
| FY2026 | $14.53 |
Look up a West Boylston property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 774-261-4040
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in West Boylston
What we check on a West Boylston purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, municipal electric, reservoir watershed.
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 loansCheck the flood zone first
The Wachusett Reservoir and the Quinapoxet and Stillwater rivers that feed it put low-lying parcels near the shoreline in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for West BoylstonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the West Boylston Fire Department before the sale closes.
West Boylston has its own electric utility
Electric service comes from the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant, a town-owned utility established in 1909, rather than a private company like National Grid or Eversource. Buyers should set up service with WBMLP directly when moving in.
WBMLPMuch of town sits near a public water-supply watershed
The Wachusett Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to metropolitan Boston, borders large sections of West Boylston and is subject to state DCR watershed protection rules. Buyers near the shoreline should ask about any applicable watershed restrictions before making an offer.
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 West Boylston?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a West Boylston address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to West Boylston: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in West Boylston: West Boylston Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP), a town-owned electric utility established in 1909 for power.
- ElectricWest Boylston Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP), a town-owned electric utility established in 1909
- WaterWest Boylston Water District / town water system for developed areas; the town does not draw from the adjacent Wachusett Reservoir, which supplies Boston
- Trash and recyclingContact the Department of Public Works for current trash and recycling collection arrangements.
- 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
West Boylston Town Hall is at 140 Worcester Street, West Boylston, MA 01583.
- Town HallMain line and website
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.774-261-4040
- Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP)The town's own electric utility, serving West Boylston since 1909.508-835-3681
- Beaman Memorial Public LibraryThe town's public library.508-835-3711
- West Boylston Public SchoolsThe town's public school district.
West Boylston, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in West Boylston, MA?
West Boylston's FY2026 residential tax rate is $14.53 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 West Boylston?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,812 a year at $14.53 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does West Boylston have a split tax rate?
No. West Boylston uses a single rate of $14.53 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in West Boylston?
The average single-family tax bill in West Boylston was $7,621 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $524,514.
What county is West Boylston, MA in?
West Boylston is in Worcester County.
Who supplies electricity in West Boylston?
The West Boylston Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP), a town-owned utility established in 1909, supplies electricity to the town.
What ZIP code does West Boylston use?
West Boylston's main village uses ZIP code 01583.
How far is West Boylston from Worcester?
West Boylston is about 8 miles from downtown Worcester, roughly a 15-20 minute drive.
Is West Boylston near the Wachusett Reservoir?
Yes. The Wachusett Reservoir, built in 1897-1908 to supply water to Boston, borders much of the town and flooded part of the original town center when it was built.
Which towns border West Boylston?
West Boylston borders Sterling, Holden, Worcester, Shrewsbury and Boylston, all in Massachusetts.
Towns near West Boylston
Neighbors of West Boylston, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- West Boylston, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Board of Assessors - Town of West Boylston, MA: westboylston-ma.gov
- WBMLP - West Boylston Municipal Light Plant: wbmlp.org
- Beaman Memorial Public Library: beamanlibrary.org
- WB Historical Soc. 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: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.