Buying a home in Massachusetts

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Massachusetts.

Effective property tax rate

1.07%

Median tax $5,992 ÷ median value $562,100 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$661,896

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

State transfer tax

0.456%

Usually paid by: seller. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 64D § 1 (deeds excise). Official source. Local taxes may add more.

Estimated buyer closing costs Estimate

$4,400–$6,300

On a $661,896 home: typical lender fees + title insurance + deed recording (TallyClose) + the buyer’s share of transfer/recording taxes. Excludes prepaids, escrow and local taxes.

At Massachusetts's effective rate of 1.07%, a typical $661,896 home would owe about $7,082/year ($590/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

MassHousing

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit MassHousing →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.