What is the property tax rate in Norfolk County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Norfolk County, Massachusetts is approximately 1.04%.

Norfolk County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Massachusetts Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Norfolk County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Quincy-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Norfolk County — including Massachusetts' 100% full-and-fair-cash-value assessment, Proposition 2½'s twin levy caps (2.5% annual growth + 2.5% of FCV ceiling, max $25/$1,000 rate), the Boston-area Residential Exemption that reduces taxable value 35% for owner-occupants in adopting communities, and the Clauses 41C/22 senior + disabled veteran exemptions.

Norfolk County, home to Dedham and 730k Bay Staters, operates under Massachusetts's distinctive Proposition 2½ property tax system. Massachusetts uses 100% full-and-fair-cash-value assessment and total tax = AV × millage / $1,000. Proposition 2½ (passed 1980) imposes two key caps: the levy ceiling (total levy ≤ 2.5% of full and fair cash value of all taxable property, with maximum tax rate of $25/$1,000) and the levy limit (annual levy growth ≤ 2.5% above prior year, plus new growth from new construction).

How the bill is built

Massachusetts's property tax calculation is straightforward but with substantial municipality-level variation. Step 1: Assessed Value. Each city/town's local Board of Assessors values your property at full and fair cash value (100% assessment ratio — equal to fair market value). Step 2: Apply combined rate. Tax = AV × total millage / $1,000. Norfolk's typical municipal millage is approximately $10.40 per $1,000 of AV. Step 3: Apply Residential Exemption (if adopted). Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Waltham, and Watertown have adopted the Residential Exemption — reducing AV by approximately 35% of average residential value for owner-occupied primary residences. Step 4: Apply local exemptions. Clauses 41C (senior, ~$1,000), 22-22F (veteran, $400-$1,500 partial; full only for paraplegic/100%-blind via 22F), and 17D (widow/widower) provide modest dollar reductions.

Proposition 2½ does NOT cap individual tax bills. The 2.5% annual cap applies to the entire municipality's tax levy, not to your individual bill. Your bill can grow much faster than 2.5% in a single year if (a) your property's assessment rises faster than the average, (b) new growth (new construction) adds to the levy limit, or (c) voters pass an override or debt exclusion. The most-common scenario for individual bill spikes: revaluation years when assessed values catch up to several years of market growth.

The Boston Residential Exemption is one of the most-valuable owner-occupant benefits in the United States. For FY2026, the Boston Residential Exemption reduces taxable value of qualifying owner-occupied primary residences by approximately 35% of the average assessed value of all residential properties — a savings of roughly $3,984 in FY2026 for qualifying primary residences. The catch: it applies ONLY to owner-occupants (not investment properties or short-term rentals) AND only in adopting communities. Combined with Boston's split tax classification (commercial millage ~$25.96/$1,000 vs residential ~$10.85/$1,000), Boston primary residences pay among the lowest effective property tax rates of any major US city.

Massachusetts is one of few states without an automatic full disabled-veteran exemption. Clause 22 series exemptions (state-mandated, locally-administered): Clause 22 (10%+ disability, $400), 22A ($750), 22B ($1,250), 22C ($1,500), 22D (KIA spouse, full), 22E (100% disability, $1,000), 22F (paraplegic/100%-blind, full), 22H (Gold Star parents, full). The 2024 HERO Act added local options 22I (CPI indexing) and 22J (doubling). For 100% disabled veterans without paraplegia or blindness, MA provides only $1,000 — substantially less than VA, NJ, TX, FL, MI, and other full-exemption states. The MA Senior Circuit Breaker (refundable income tax credit, max ~$2,730 in FY26) provides an alternative path for disabled-elderly veterans.

2026 Norfolk County rate breakdown (dollars per $1,000 of AV (100% full-and-fair-cash-value), Dedham district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined municipal millage (~$10.40 / $1,000 AV typical)	10.4000
Combined total	10.4000

As of April 26, 2026 · From Massachusetts municipal assessors (each city/town).

Note: Norfolk County is the **wealthiest county in Massachusetts by median household income** (~$112K) and contains many of Boston's premier inner-ring suburbs. Brookline (~63K) is densely-built urban-suburban directly bordering Boston; Wellesley (Wellesley College, the Boston Marathon midpoint) is a top-rated Boston suburban school district; Quincy (~101K) is a working-class city with substantial Asian-American population (Boston's Chinatown overflow); Milton (the Blue Hills Reservation) anchors the southern Boston suburbs. Norfolk County is also the birthplace of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams (Quincy) and George H.W. Bush (Milton) — though the latter is technically a longstanding family connection rather than a birth.

Note: Norfolk County effective property tax rates run approximately 1.04% — moderately low for Massachusetts. Brookline ~$10.34/$1,000 (also has Residential Exemption — making effective rates very low for owner-occupants), Wellesley ~$10.80/$1,000, Newton-overlap (Wellesley side) ~$10.20/$1,000, Quincy ~$11.85/$1,000, Milton ~$12.10/$1,000. Median home values are generally high — ~$680K county-wide but $1.5M+ in Wellesley/Weston/Dover/Sherborn/Brookline.

Note: For relocation buyers: Norfolk County is the **premium Boston suburb** option — top-rated public schools (Wellesley, Brookline, Newton-Wellesley overlap, Weston, Dover-Sherborn), strong commute access to Boston (MBTA Green Line in Brookline; D Line to Newton; Commuter Rail through Wellesley), and the highest concentration of Boston-area family wealth. Brookline has adopted the **Residential Exemption** (35% AV reduction for owner-occupants) — substantial benefit given Brookline's very high median home values.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Massachusetts homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in five mechanisms: (1) the Boston/Cambridge/Brookline-style Residential Exemption (35% AV reduction for owner-occupants, only in adopting communities), (2) Clause 41C Senior Exemption (~$1,000 typical, locally-administered), (3) Clauses 22-22F Veteran Exemptions ($400-$1,500 partial, full only for paraplegic/blind via 22F), (4) the state-level Senior Circuit Breaker (refundable income tax credit, ~$2,730 max), and (5) Property Tax Deferral (Clause 41A, 8% interest, lien-based).

Residential Exemption (Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, etc.)

Adopting communities (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Waltham, Watertown) reduce the taxable value of owner-occupied primary residences by approximately 35% of the average assessed value of all residential properties in the community. For Boston FY26, this saves owner-occupants roughly $3,984 on their annual tax bill — among the most-valuable property tax benefits in the United States. Apply with your local Board of Assessors. Residential Exemption applies ONLY to owner-occupants — investment properties, second homes, and short-term rentals pay full posted rate. Apply once; the exemption renews automatically as long as occupancy continues.

Clause 41C Senior Exemption

The Massachusetts Clause 41C Senior Exemption provides $1,000 typical (state mandates $500 minimum, doubled to $1,000 by local vote in most communities) for owner-occupants 70+ (locally reducible to 65+). Income limits ~$24,911 single / $37,367 married (FY26 typical). Apply annually with local Board of Assessors by April 1. Boston also provides up to $1,000 additional discretionary tax relief on top of the base $1,000.

Clauses 22 series Veteran Exemptions

Massachusetts veterans receive partial property tax exemptions through the Clause 22 series: Clause 22 (10%+ disability, $400), 22A (loss of limb/eye/Purple Heart, $750), 22B (loss of two limbs/eyes, $1,250), 22C (severe disability, $1,500), 22D (KIA spouse, full), 22E (100% disability, $1,000), 22F (paraplegic/100%-blind, full), 22H (Gold Star parents, full). The HERO Act of 2024 added local options: Clause 22I (CPI-indexed annual increases) and 22J (doubling of all amounts). Apply with local Board of Assessors with VA disability documentation.

Senior Circuit Breaker (refundable state income tax credit)

The MA Senior Circuit Breaker is a refundable credit on the state income tax return (Schedule CB) for homeowners 65+ whose property tax + half water/sewer charges exceed 10% of total income. The maximum credit is approximately $2,730 in FY2026 (indexed annually). Income limits (FY26 typical): $69,000 single, $86,000 head of household, $103,000 married filing jointly. The Senior Circuit Breaker provides substantially more relief than Clause 41C in most cases — eligible seniors should typically take the Circuit Breaker rather than 41C alone. Both can be combined.

Appealing your assessment

Massachusetts assessment appeals run through the local Board of Assessors. Homeowners file a Property Tax Abatement Application within 30 days of receiving the actual tax bill (typically January for FY26, due by February 1). The Board of Assessors reviews and may grant abatement. If denied, homeowners can appeal to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (ATB) in Boston within 3 months of the denial decision. ATB decisions can be appealed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Most MA cities and towns reassess annually for full and fair cash value; revaluation years (when assessments are recertified by the Department of Revenue) typically produce the largest single-year bill changes.

Cities and towns in Norfolk County

Norfolk County contains 8 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Dedham to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Norfolk County is subject to Norfolk County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Quincy	city	101,400
Brookline	town	63,200
Weymouth	town	57,700
Braintree	town	39,200
Needham	town	31,200
Wellesley	town	29,500
Milton	town	28,600
Dedham County seat	town	25,400

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Dedham tax district. Other cities in Norfolk County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Massachusetts municipal assessors (each city/town) before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Massachusetts property taxes due?

Massachusetts property taxes are billed quarterly: August 1 (Q1), November 1 (Q2), February 1 (Q3), May 1 (Q4). The Q1 and Q2 bills are "preliminary" (estimated based on prior year), and Q3 and Q4 bills are "actual" (reflecting the current year's assessment and tax rate, which are typically set in late autumn). The actual bill (Q3, mailed late December) is when most homeowners learn their final annual tax. Late payments incur 14% annual interest. Most MA homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

Does Proposition 2½ cap my individual tax bill at 2.5% per year?

No — this is the most-common misconception. Proposition 2½ caps the entire municipality's tax levy (total revenue raised) at 2.5% annual growth, NOT individual bills. Your individual bill can grow much faster than 2.5% in a single year if (a) your property's assessment rises faster than the town average, (b) the town adds new growth from new construction, or (c) voters pass an override or debt exclusion. Bill spikes are most common during revaluation years when assessed values catch up to several years of market growth. The 2.5% cap is structurally important but doesn't directly protect individual homeowners.

How do I apply for the Cambridge / Brookline Residential Exemption?

The Residential Exemption (35% AV reduction for owner-occupied primary residences) is available in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Waltham, and Watertown. Apply with your local Board of Assessors — Boston applications are available at City Hall (Assessing Department, Room 301). The application requires proof of ownership and primary residency as of January 1. Once approved, the exemption renews automatically as long as occupancy continues. Savings vary by community but typically $2,000-$4,000+ per year.

How do I apply for the Clause 41C Senior Exemption?

Clause 41C (Senior Exemption) is available to owner-occupants 70+ (locally reducible to 65+) with income under ~$24,911 single / $37,367 married (typical FY26 limits — varies slightly by community). Apply with your local Board of Assessors by April 1 each year. Standard exemption is $500 (state minimum), doubled to $1,000 by local vote in most communities. Boston provides up to $1,000 additional discretionary relief. The Senior Circuit Breaker (refundable state income tax credit, max ~$2,730 in FY26) typically provides MORE relief than Clause 41C alone — eligible seniors should file Schedule CB on their MA state income tax return.

Why do disabled veterans pay property tax in Massachusetts when other states fully exempt them?

Massachusetts is one of few states without an automatic full disabled-veteran exemption. Clause 22E (100% disability) provides only $1,000 — and full exemption is available ONLY for paraplegic or 100%-blind veterans (Clause 22F) or surviving spouses of service members killed in action (Clause 22D). The 2024 HERO Act added local options 22I (CPI indexing) and 22J (doubling) that some communities are adopting — Clause 22J would double the 22E benefit to $2,000. The MA Senior Circuit Breaker (refundable income tax credit, max ~$2,730) provides an alternative path for disabled-elderly veterans. Lobbying continues for full exemption legislation.

How do I appeal my Massachusetts assessment?

File a Property Tax Abatement Application with your local Board of Assessors within 30 days of receiving the actual tax bill (typically January for FY26, with appeals due by February 1). The Board reviews and may grant abatement based on assessment errors or comparable sales evidence. If denied, appeal to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (ATB) in Boston within 3 months of the denial decision. The ATB is the dedicated state-level property tax appeals body. ATB decisions can be appealed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Most MA cities and towns reassess annually for full and fair cash value; revaluation years (Department of Revenue recertifications, typically every 5 years) produce the largest bill changes.

About Norfolk County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Wellesley (Norfolk County) is the **midpoint of the Boston Marathon** and home to the famous "Wellesley Scream Tunnel" — the half-mile stretch in front of Wellesley College where the all-women undergraduate student body lines the marathon course every Patriot's Day, screaming and cheering so loudly that the noise is allegedly audible up to a mile away. Marathon runners report the Scream Tunnel as the loudest single section of any marathon in the world. Wellesley College students hold up signs offering "kisses for energy" — a tradition since 1897.

Hometown hero

John Adams

The 2nd President of the United States (1735-1826) was born in Braintree (now Quincy) — Norfolk County contains both the John Adams Birthplace and the John Quincy Adams Birthplace (both NPS sites) on Franklin Street. The Adams family's "Old House" in Quincy (Peace field) was the home of four generations of the Adams family from 1788 to 1927 and is now Adams National Historical Park. Quincy is sometimes called the "City of Presidents" because of the Adams family connection.

Biggest annual event

Patriot's Day reenactments + Quincy ChinaFest

On Patriot's Day, the Boston Marathon's 13.1-mile midpoint passes through Wellesley's "Scream Tunnel" — drawing approximately 250,000 spectators along the Norfolk County section alone. Quincy ChinaFest (annual, May at Quincy Center) is one of the largest Chinese cultural festivals in New England — drawing 30,000+ attendees and reflecting Quincy's ~30% Asian American population (the highest concentration of any city in Massachusetts).

Property Tax in Norfolk County, 2026