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The Benjamin Thompson Birthplace (Count Rumford Birthplace), a historic house in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Living in Woburn, Massachusetts

Woburn is a city in Middlesex County about 9 miles north of Boston. It was first settled in 1640 near Horn Pond and officially incorporated as a town in 1642, then adopted a city form of government on June 12, 1888. Horn Pond is a principal source of the Mystic River, and the city draws its own drinking water from wells in the Horn Pond aquifer area, supplemented by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Woburn at a glance

Woburn's zip code

Woburn's main ZIP code is 01801; 01888 is also assigned to the city.

Woburn villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Woburn center01801Along Common and Main streets, where City Hall and downtown businesses are located.

Things to do in Woburn, MA

Start with Horn Pond and Benjamin Thompson Birthplace (Count Rumford Birthplace), then 3 more below.

  1. Horn Pond

    A pond that is a principal source of the Mystic River, near where Woburn's first settlers arrived in 1640. The surrounding reservation is used for walking and shoreline views.

    FreeYear-round

    Off Arlington Road, Woburn, MA

  2. Benjamin Thompson Birthplace (Count Rumford Birthplace)

    The birthplace of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, a Woburn-born scientist. The house is preserved as a historic site connected to his work.

    Free

    Woburn, MA

  3. Winn Memorial Library (Woburn Public Library)

    The city's public library building, a longstanding civic landmark in Woburn center.

    FreeYear-round

    Woburn, MA

    Plan a visit
  4. First Congregational Church in Woburn

    A congregation dating to 1642, worshipping in an 1860 church building, tied to the city's founding-era history.

    Year-round

    Woburn, MA

  5. Baldwin House and Middlesex Canal remnant

    A historic house associated with a surviving stretch of the Middlesex Canal, the early 19th-century waterway that once linked Boston to the Merrimack River.

    Free

    Woburn, MA

A little history

Woburn was first settled in 1640 near Horn Pond and was officially incorporated as a town in 1642.

On November 22, 1642, the town hosted the first religious ordination in the Americas, with Rev. Thomas Carter presiding.

Woburn adopted a city form of government on June 12, 1888, after more than two centuries as a town.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Woburn

Woburn's main outdoor destination is Horn Pond, a source of the Mystic River near the city's earliest settlement.

  • Horn PondA pond and shoreline area that is a principal source of the Mystic River, used for walking and passive recreation.

Where to eat in Woburn: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Woburn to try, including italian restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Woburn

Woburn center, around Common and Main streets, has sidewalks connecting City Hall, the library, and nearby businesses, but most of the city, including its residential neighborhoods and the Route 128/Interstate 93 business corridor, is built around driving.

Woburn center

10 Common St, Woburn, MA 01801

Check any Woburn address

Drive times

  • Boston, about 9 miles20-30 min
  • Logan International Airport, about 12 miles20-30 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn provides Amtrak service to Portland, Maine and MBTA Commuter Rail service on the Lowell Line to Boston's North Station. The former Mishawum station on the Lowell Line closed in December 2020.

Woburn property taxes

Woburn's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.15 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.43. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $915 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,755, on an average assessed value of $738,200.

Woburn's FY2026 tax rates

$9.15per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$9.15 per $1,000
  • Commercial, industrial, personal property$21.43 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$738,200
  • Average single-family tax bill$6,755
  • 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.

Woburn property tax calculator

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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$9.34
FY2023$8.70
FY2024$8.06
FY2025$8.54
FY2026$9.15

Look up a Woburn property

Buying a home in Woburn

What we check on a Woburn purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, city water.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Middlesex County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Horn Pond is a principal source of the Mystic River, and low-lying parcels near the pond and along the Mystic River watershed can fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Woburn
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Woburn Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-897-1383 to schedule.

Woburn Fire Department page
Smoke & CO certificate

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. Woburn's Fire Prevention division can be reached to schedule the required inspection.

Woburn Fire Department
City water

Woburn supplies its own drinking water

Woburn draws drinking water from city wells near Horn Pond, supplemented by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, rather than relying only on private wells, which is worth confirming for a specific address.

Woburn Water Department

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.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Woburn?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Woburn address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Woburn: utilities, trash and city hall

Who to call in Woburn: Eversource, with a Woburn Community Electricity aggregation program that arranges supply while Eversource continues to own and maintain the delivery wires for power.

City Hall offices and contacts

Woburn City Hall is at 10 Common St, Woburn, MA 01801. Main line: 781-897-5800.

Woburn, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Woburn, MA?

Woburn's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.15 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.43. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Woburn?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,660 a year at $9.15 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Woburn have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $9.15 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $21.43.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Woburn?

The average single-family tax bill in Woburn was $6,755 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $738,200.

Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Woburn?

Woburn uses curbside collection with a city-issued 96-gallon Waste Management toter; there is no pay-as-you-throw bag or sticker system. Recycling is collected every other week and yard waste seasonally from April through December.

Who supplies electricity and natural gas in Woburn?

Eversource delivers electricity in Woburn, and the city runs a Woburn Community Electricity aggregation program for supply; Eversource still owns and maintains the delivery wires. National Grid provides natural gas.

What ZIP codes does Woburn use?

Woburn's main ZIP code is 01801; 01888 is also assigned to the city.

Is there commuter rail service in Woburn?

The Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn offers MBTA Commuter Rail service on the Lowell Line to Boston's North Station, plus Amtrak service to Portland, Maine.

What is the smoke-certificate process for selling a home in Woburn?

Massachusetts law requires a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate before closing. Woburn's Fire Prevention division, reachable at 781-897-1383, schedules these inspections.

Towns near Woburn

Neighbors of Woburn, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources