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 loans
Living in Winchendon, Massachusetts
Winchendon is a town in the northwestern corner of Worcester County, bordering New Hampshire, drained by the Millers River. Incorporated in 1764 and named after Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England, it became known as "Toy Town" for the wooden toys made by the Morton E. Converse Company in the late 1800s and early 1900s. A giant wooden rocking horse in the town center still marks that history.
Winchendon at a glance
- $12.69Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,720Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 25-30 minDrive to Fitchburg
- WorcesterCounty
Winchendon's villages and zip codes
Winchendon uses a single ZIP code, 01475, for the whole town.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Winchendon center | 01475 | Along Front Street and Central Street, where Town Hall and the giant Toy Town rocking horse landmark are located. |
| Winchendon Springs (Spring Village) | 01475 | A former textile-mill village dating to 1843, in the eastern part of town. |
| Waterville | 01475 | A village section of town along the Millers River. |
Things to do in Winchendon, MA
Start with Lake Dennison Recreation Area and Otter River State Forest, then 2 more below.
Lake Dennison Recreation Area
A state recreation area with a swimming beach, picnic areas and campground on Lake Dennison, adjacent to Otter River State Forest.
Route 202, Winchendon/Templeton line
Otter River State Forest
State forest land with camping, trails and river access along the Otter River, bordering Lake Dennison.
Winchendon, MA
Toy Town Rocking Horse
A large wooden rocking horse landmark in the town center recalling Winchendon's history as "Toy Town," once home to the Morton E. Converse toy factory.
Winchendon center
Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area
A state wildlife management area with fields, wetlands and trails used for hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing.
Winchendon, MA
More worth a visit
- Lake MonomonacA lake shared with Rindge, New Hampshire, on the town's northern border.
A little history
Winchendon was incorporated in 1764 and named after Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England.
The Morton E. Converse Company made Winchendon into "Toy Town," manufacturing wooden toys such as Noah's Arks, doll furniture and hobby horses from the 1870s until 1934.
Textile manufacturing began in the Spring Village section of town in 1843, using water power from local streams.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Winchendon
State forest and wildlife land around the Millers River and Lake Dennison give Winchendon swimming, camping and trail access.
- Lake Dennison Recreation AreaSwimming beach, picnic areas and camping on Lake Dennison.
- Otter River State ForestCamping and trails along the Otter River.
- Birch Hill Wildlife Management AreaFields and wetlands for hiking and wildlife viewing.
- Lake MonomonacA lake on the New Hampshire line used for boating and fishing.
Walkability and getting around Winchendon
Winchendon center along Front and Central streets has sidewalks near Town Hall and downtown businesses, but most of the town's residential and rural areas are built for driving.
Drive times
- Fitchburg, about 16 miles25-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) operates bus service connecting Winchendon to Gardner and Fitchburg. The town also has a Community Connector transportation service. There is no train station in Winchendon.
Winchendon property taxes
Winchendon's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,269 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,720, on an average assessed value of $371,974.
Winchendon's FY2026 tax rates
$12.69per $1,000, residential
- Residential$12.69 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$371,974
- Average single-family tax bill$4,720
- 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 | $15.11 |
| FY2023 | $13.40 |
| FY2024 | $12.54 |
| FY2025 | $11.75 |
| FY2026 | $12.69 |
Look up a Winchendon 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 Winchendon
What we check on a Winchendon purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke certificate, rural utilities.
Check the flood zone first
The Millers River and its tributaries, along with Lake Dennison and Lake Monomonac, put some low-lying parcels in Winchendon within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for WinchendonSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Winchendon Fire Department before the sale closes.
Smoke and CO certificate required before closing
Massachusetts sellers need a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local Fire Department before a home can close. We build that inspection into the closing timeline.
Confirm well, septic and heating fuel
Parts of Winchendon are rural, so buyers should confirm whether a property uses a private well, septic system and Title 5 inspection status, and which heating fuel serves the home, 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 Winchendon?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Winchendon address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Winchendon: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Winchendon.
- 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
Winchendon Town Hall is at 109 Front St, Winchendon, MA 01475. Hours: Monday 8am-6pm; Tuesday-Thursday 8am-5pm (Assessors: Mon, Tue, Thu 8am-12pm, Wed 8am-5pm).
- Town HallMain line and website
- Town ClerkVital records and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and collection.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning/Land UseZoning and land-use applications.
- Department of Public WorksRoads and town infrastructure.
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic inspections and wells.
Winchendon, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Winchendon, MA?
Winchendon's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.69 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 Winchendon?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,076 a year at $12.69 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Winchendon have a split tax rate?
No. Winchendon uses a single rate of $12.69 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Winchendon?
The average single-family tax bill in Winchendon was $4,720 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $371,974.
What county is Winchendon, MA in?
Winchendon is in Worcester County, in the northwestern corner near the New Hampshire line.
What ZIP code does Winchendon use?
Winchendon uses a single ZIP code, 01475, for the whole town.
Which towns border Winchendon?
Winchendon borders Ashburnham, Gardner, Templeton and Royalston in Massachusetts, and Fitzwilliam and Rindge in New Hampshire.
Is there public transit in Winchendon?
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) runs bus service to Gardner and Fitchburg, and the town has a Community Connector transportation service. There is no train station.
How far is Winchendon from Fitchburg?
Winchendon is about 16 miles from Fitchburg, roughly a 25-30 minute drive.
Why is Winchendon called "Toy Town"?
The Morton E. Converse Company manufactured wooden toys in Winchendon from the 1870s to 1934, and a large wooden rocking horse in the town center still marks that history.
Towns near Winchendon
Neighbors of Winchendon, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Winchendon, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Winchendon official website: townofwinchendon.com
- Winchendon Rocking Horse 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: Sfoskett, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.