Living in Williamsburg, Massachusetts
Williamsburg is a Hampshire County hill town first settled in 1735 and incorporated in 1771, about 7 miles northwest of Northampton along Massachusetts Route 9. The East and West branches of the Mill River join in the town center and flow southeast through the village of Haydenville on their way to the Connecticut River. On May 16, 1874, the collapse of the Williamsburg Reservoir Dam sent a flood down the Mill River valley that killed 139 people in about an hour, one of the deadliest dam failures in U.S. history.
Williamsburg at a glance
- $16.01Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,968Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-20 minDrive to Northampton
- HampshireCounty
Williamsburg's villages and zip codes
Williamsburg center and Searsville use ZIP 01096; Haydenville has its own ZIP, 01039.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Williamsburg center | 01096 | The town's original settlement area on Main Street, with the Williamsburg General Store, Williamsburg Market and Meekins Library. |
| Haydenville | 01039 | A village downstream on the Mill River, built around the Hayden, Gere & Co. brass works; Town Hall is located here, and the village is listed as the Haydenville Historic District. |
| Searsville | 01096 | A small settlement on Route 9 about a mile above the Williamsburg village center, toward Goshen. |
Things to do in Williamsburg, MA
Start with Historic Dam Trail and Meekins Library, then 2 more below.
Historic Dam Trail
A Williamsburg Woodland Trails pedestrian route from Ashfield Road to the ruins of the Williamsburg Reservoir Dam, opened to the public in 2018. Interpretive signs tell the story of the 1874 Mill River flood and the Hemenway family's farm and forest history.
Ashfield Road, Williamsburg, MA
Plan a visitMeekins Library
Williamsburg's public library, with a local history collection of historic photographs documenting the town and Haydenville, including one of the largest photographic records of the 1874 Mill River flood's aftermath.
Main Street, Williamsburg, MA 01096
Plan a visitHaydenville Historic District
A mill village historic district built around the former Hayden, Gere & Co. brass works, which operated from 1851 (rebuilt after the 1874 flood) until 1954.
Haydenville, Williamsburg, MA
Williamsburg General Store
A general store in the town center, part of the small cluster of businesses that also includes the Williamsburg Market and the post office.
Main Street, Williamsburg, MA 01096
A little history
Williamsburg was first settled in 1735 and incorporated as a town in 1771.
On May 16, 1874, the Williamsburg Reservoir Dam on the East Branch of the Mill River collapsed, sending a flood through Williamsburg, Skinnerville, Haydenville and Leeds that killed 139 people within about an hour and reached Northampton, more than 12 miles downstream.
Haydenville grew around a cotton mill built in 1809 that was converted to button manufacturing in 1828, then to Hayden, Gere & Co.'s brass works starting in 1851; the works were destroyed in the 1874 flood, rebuilt in 1876, and operated until 1954.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Williamsburg
The Mill River's East and West branches join in Williamsburg and run through Haydenville, and the wooded hills around the old reservoir site carry the Williamsburg Woodland Trails network.
- Mill RiverThe river formed by the East and West branches joining at the town center, running through Haydenville toward Northampton.
- Williamsburg Woodland TrailsA network of hiking trails on conservation and private land around town, including the Historic Dam Trail.More information
Where to eat in Williamsburg: restaurants and coffee
3 places in Williamsburg to try, including american restaurant and quick bites / american. No one paid to be listed.
Williamsburg Snack Bar
American restaurant
A seasonal-hours sandwich and seafood counter in the Haydenville village center, serving items such as hot dogs, lobster rolls and fried seafood.
109 Main St, Haydenville, MA 01039 · williamsburgsnackbar.com
Local Burgy
Quick bites / American
A quick-service restaurant in the Haydenville village center.
93 Main St, Haydenville, MA 01096
Bread Euphoria
Bakery
A bakery in Haydenville specializing in baked goods.
206 Main St, Haydenville, MA 01039
Walkability and getting around Williamsburg
The Williamsburg and Haydenville village centers each have a walkable cluster of a few blocks along Main Street, but the town overall is rural hill-town terrain built around Route 9 and requires a car.
Drive times
- Northampton, about 7 miles15-20 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The PVTA R42 route connects Northampton and Williamsburg. There is no train station in town; the nearest Amtrak/Valley Flyer service is in Northampton.
Williamsburg property taxes
Williamsburg's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.01 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,601 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,968, on an average assessed value of $435,224.
Williamsburg's FY2026 tax rates
$16.01per $1,000, residential
- Residential$16.01 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$435,224
- Average single-family tax bill$6,968
- 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 | $19.44 |
| FY2023 | $19.64 |
| FY2024 | $18.10 |
| FY2025 | $18.97 |
| FY2026 | $16.01 |
Look up a Williamsburg property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Williamsburg
What we check on a Williamsburg purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, well & septic, river flood zones.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Hampshire County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Land along the Mill River's East and West branches, especially in Haydenville, sits in FEMA-mapped flood zones; the river's 1874 dam-failure history is part of the town's flood record. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WilliamsburgSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Williamsburg Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 413-268-7233 to schedule.
Williamsburg Fire Department pageMost homes likely rely on private wells and septic
No town-wide public sewer department is listed for Williamsburg, and the town's rural water infrastructure is limited, so many properties use private wells and septic systems. The Board of Health, served through the Foothills Health District, handles Title 5 septic and well permitting.
Some Mill River-adjacent parcels sit in flood zones
Parts of Haydenville and the town center along the Mill River are in FEMA-mapped flood zones. Buyers near the river should check the flood map 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 Williamsburg?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Williamsburg address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Williamsburg: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Williamsburg.
- Trash and recyclingWilliamsburg has no curbside collection. Residents and Haydenville residents with a current vehicle sticker use the town's Transfer Station and Recycling Center, which is part of the Hilltown Resource Management Cooperative.
- 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
Williamsburg Transfer Station
27 Mountain St, Haydenville, MA 01039 Wednesday and Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Williamsburg Town Hall is at 141 Main St, Haydenville, MA 01039. Hours: Monday 8-11:30 AM, Tuesday 8 AM-5 PM, Thursday 4:30-7 PM, and by appointment. Main line: 413-268-8402.
- Town HallMain line and website413-268-8402
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records and elections.413-268-8402
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.
- Board of HealthSeptic and well permitting, served through the Foothills Health District.
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO alarm certificates for home sales.413-268-7233
- Transfer StationTrash, recycling and the Hilltown Resource Management Cooperative programs.
- Meekins LibraryThe town's public library.
- School Department / Hampshire Regional School DistrictAnne T. Dunphy School (Pre-K–6) in Williamsburg, and Hampshire Regional High School (grades 7-12) in Westhampton, serving Williamsburg, Westhampton, Southampton, Goshen and Chesterfield.
Williamsburg, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Williamsburg, MA?
Williamsburg's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.01 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 Williamsburg?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,404 a year at $16.01 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Williamsburg have a split tax rate?
No. Williamsburg uses a single rate of $16.01 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Williamsburg?
The average single-family tax bill in Williamsburg was $6,968 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $435,224.
What county is Williamsburg, MA in?
Williamsburg is in Hampshire County.
What are Williamsburg's ZIP codes?
Williamsburg center and Searsville use 01096; the village of Haydenville has its own ZIP, 01039.
Does Williamsburg have curbside trash pickup?
No. Residents use the town's Transfer Station and Recycling Center on Mountain Street in Haydenville, open Wednesday and Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM.
How far is Williamsburg from Northampton?
Williamsburg's center is about 7 miles from Northampton via Route 9.
Is there public transit in Williamsburg?
The PVTA R42 bus route connects Northampton and Williamsburg. There is no train station in town.
What school district serves Williamsburg?
Anne T. Dunphy School serves Pre-K through grade 6 in town; Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton serves grades 7-12 for Williamsburg, Westhampton, Southampton, Goshen and Chesterfield.
Towns near Williamsburg
Neighbors of Williamsburg, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Williamsburg, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Haydenville, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Haydenville Historic District - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Williamsburg Woodland Trails - Historic Dam Trail: williamsburgwoodlandtrails.org
- Town of Williamsburg, MA official website (burgy.org): burgy.org
- Transfer Station - Town of Williamsburg: burgy.org
- Fire Department - Town of Williamsburg: burgy.org
- Williamsburg Snack Bar, official site: williamsburgsnackbar.com
- Meekins Library - Williamsburg Public Libraries: meekins-library.org
- Hampshire Regional School District - About our Districts: hr-k12.org
- Williamsburg General Store 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-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.