Average single-family tax bills rose in all 19 South Coast communities as 18 wait on new rates
Marion and Mattapoisett have the highest average bills and Wareham and Fairhaven the lowest. Rochester's new rate adds $212 to its average bill, and the other 18 have no new rate on the state's books yet.
SOUTH COAST The average single-family property tax bill went up in every one of the 19 South Coast communities last fiscal year, by amounts ranging from $126 in Wareham to $451 in Berkley, and only one of them has a tax rate for this year's bills on the state's books so far, figures from the state Division of Local Services show.
That one is Rochester, whose fiscal 2027 rate is $10.62 per $1,000 of value. Its average single-family bill comes to $6,957 this year, $212 more than last year.
What the average home paid
For fiscal 2026, which ended June 30, the average single-family bill was highest in Marion, at $8,908 on an average home value of $1,004,280, and in Mattapoisett, at $8,244. It was lowest in Wareham, at $4,087, and Fairhaven, at $4,374. In the three cities, the average was $4,651 in Fall River, $4,653 in New Bedford and $5,540 in Taunton.
The largest increases in percentage terms came in Taunton, where the average bill rose 7.6%, and Swansea, up 7.3%, followed by Berkley at 6.9% and Seekonk at 6.3%. The smallest were in Marion, 2%, and Rochester, 2.2%. Average home values rose in every community too, by 3.1% in Wareham up to 9.3% in Lakeville.
The state also measures each average bill against the community's per capita income. By that measure the bill weighs most in Fall River and New Bedford, where it equals about 21% of per capita income, and least in Westport, about 9%.
| Community | Average bill | Change | Residential rate per $1,000 | Average home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acushnet | $5,244 | +$154 | $10.45 | $501,817 |
| Berkley | $6,985 | +$451 | $12.35 | $565,579 |
| Dartmouth | $5,276 | +$245 | $8.03 | $657,047 |
| Dighton | $6,689 | +$294 | $12.45 | $537,235 |
| Fairhaven | $4,374 | +$140 | $9.19 | $475,941 |
| Fall River | $4,651 | +$236 | $11.48 | $405,164 |
| Freetown | $5,501 | +$234 | $9.78 | $562,426 |
| Lakeville | $6,097 | +$171 | $9.74 | $625,926 |
| Marion | $8,908 | +$175 | $8.87 | $1,004,280 |
| Mattapoisett | $8,244 | +$232 | $10.24 | $805,060 |
| New Bedford | $4,653 | +$161 | $10.95 | $424,920 |
| Rehoboth | $6,623 | +$208 | $10.85 | $610,445 |
| Rochester | $6,745 | +$142 | $10.59 | $636,929 |
| Seekonk | $6,852 | +$406 | $12.27 | $558,474 |
| Somerset | $6,278 | +$244 | $12.93 | $485,506 |
| Swansea | $5,623 | +$381 | $11.36 | $494,954 |
| Taunton | $5,540 | +$390 | $11.14 | $497,265 |
| Wareham | $4,087 | +$126 | $8.56 | $477,438 |
| Westport | $4,931 | +$153 | $7.28 | $677,349 |
The figures cover single-family homes only, and each average bill equals the average home value times the residential tax rate, so an individual bill can be well above or below it.
What sets the next bills
Before a rate can be approved, each select board or city council must hold a public hearing and vote on how to split the tax levy between homes and businesses. At that hearing the assessors present the information and the fiscal effect of each option, and the state Department of Revenue will not approve a rate until it has been held, under state law. Last year 11 of the 19 communities charged commercial and industrial property a higher rate than homes: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea and Taunton. The other eight used a single rate.
In communities that bill quarterly, the August and November bills are preliminary estimates, and the actual bill based on the new rate is due in two payments, Feb. 1 and May 1, when it is mailed by Dec. 31. When it is not, the whole balance is due May 1 or 30 days after mailing, whichever is later, unless the state approves another estimated bill for the third quarter. In communities that bill twice a year, the actual bill is due April 1. Assessors must set the rate by April 1.
Earlier SC360 reports on this year's tax bills: Dartmouth's new assessments pushed to one spring tax bill as revaluation starts late, Fall River's property tax limit rises about $5.9 million as the state certifies new growth and Rochester tax rate rises to $10.62, its first increase since 2017.
How to weigh in
The classification hearing is open to the public and appears on the select board or city council agenda when it is scheduled. Questions about a property's assessed value, abatements and exemptions go to the local assessors' office.
Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.
Notes
Every figure comes from the state Division of Local Services' Average Single Family Tax Bill and Tax Rates by Class reports for the 19 communities, marked current as of Oct. 28, and the rules on bills and hearings come from Mass. General Laws c. 59, s. 57C and c. 40, s. 56. We read them on Oct. 28 and recomputed every change and percentage. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar.
Corrections
No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.
Sources (4)
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: Average Single Family Tax Bill, 19 South Coast communities, fiscal 2025 to 2027 (data current as of 10/28/2026)Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Massachusetts Division of Local Services: Tax Rates by Class, 19 South Coast communities, fiscal 2026 and 2027 (data current as of 10/28/2026)Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Mass. General Laws c. 59, s. 57C (preliminary and actual tax bills, due dates)Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Mass. General Laws c. 40, s. 56 (tax classification and the public hearing)Read Oct. 28, 2026.