Property Tax in Bristol County, Massachusetts
Homeowners in Bristol County, Massachusetts pay a median of $4,685 a year in real estate taxes, on a median home value of $421,800. Those are the Census Bureau's published medians for the county (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023) — the typical bill and the typical home value for owner-occupied households.
What the Bristol County numbers mean
Read the two medians together: $4,685 is the middle tax bill among owner-occupied households in Bristol County, and $421,800 is the middle home value. Neither figure describes a specific property — together they describe the typical homeowner's situation in the county.
The derived effective rate for Bristol County is 1.11% (median tax ÷ median value). Treat it as an estimate for comparison only: it comes from survey medians of different households, not from the county's rate schedule.
Bristol County by the numbers
| Measure | Bristol County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid | $4,685 | $5,813 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $421,800 | $525,800 | $303,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.11% | 1.11% | 0.98% |
| Median tax per month | $390 | $484 | $247 |
*Estimate derived from Census medians (tax ÷ value), not an official rate.
Bristol County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Massachusetts: #8 of 14 counties
- Median home value rank in Massachusetts: #9 of 14
- Population rank in Massachusetts: #6 of 14 (578,436 residents)
- Population density rank: #5 of 14 (1,046 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Massachusetts: #7 of 14 (553 sq mi, 7.1% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $390; per $1,000 of home value: $1.11
How Bristol County compares
The median tax bill in Bristol County is about 19% lower than the state median ($5,813 for Massachusetts) and about 58% higher than the US median ($2,969 nationally). By median taxes paid, the county ranks #8 out of 14 Massachusetts counties with published Census data — 7 counties in the state have a higher median bill.
Comparisons cut both ways: a county can have a modest rate but high bills because homes are expensive, or a high rate but modest bills because homes are cheaper. Bristol County's derived rate of 1.11% sits above the derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Bristol County: the median bill works out to about $390 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,111 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 578,436 people — the #6 most populous county in Massachusetts, spread over 553 square miles, a density of about 1,046 people per square mile. Its median home value, $421,800, ranks #9 among the state's 14 counties with data.
Nationally, Bristol County's median bill of $4,685 ranks #147 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 5% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 8.3% of Massachusetts's population, its median home value is about 20% below the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 11.11% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Bristol County to the most expensive county, Middlesex County ($7,240), is $2,555 a year.
Counties nearest Bristol County in the Massachusetts ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County, MA | $5,326 | $363,400 | 1.47% |
| Worcester County, MA | $5,207 | $390,700 | 1.33% |
| Franklin County, MA | $4,595 | $303,400 | 1.51% |
| Suffolk County, MA | $4,533 | $680,700 | 0.67% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Bristol County's derived rate of 1.11%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $4,444 a year. That is only an illustration using the derived rate — a real bill is computed from the property's assessed value, its exemptions, and the combined rates of its specific taxing districts, so it can be higher or lower.
The usual sequence is: the local assessor values the property; exemptions are applied; the taxable value is multiplied by the combined local rates; and the county bills and collects the tax, distributing it to the schools, municipalities and districts that levied it.
Checking your assessment in Bristol County
If your bill looks wrong, work through these steps:
1. Get your property record card from the assessor and check the basics — living area, lot size, bedrooms, condition, and any exemptions you should have.
2. Compare your assessed value with recent sale prices of similar homes in Bristol County.
3. Talk to the assessor's office informally first; clear errors are often fixed without a hearing.
4. If needed, file a formal appeal with the local review board before the deadline on your assessment notice, with your evidence attached.
5. Keep paying the bill as issued while the appeal runs, unless your notice says otherwise — unpaid taxes accrue penalties regardless of an appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
The median real estate tax paid in Bristol County, Massachusetts is $4,685 per year, on a median home value of $421,800 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
Dividing Bristol County's median tax bill ($4,685) by its median home value ($421,800) gives a derived effective rate of 1.11%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Bristol County compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
By median taxes paid, Bristol County stands at #8 among the 14 Massachusetts counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $4,685 median bill is about 19% lower than the state median ($5,813), and 7 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
The assessor estimates your property's market value; exemptions (such as a homestead exemption) reduce the taxable amount; and the result is multiplied by the combined rates of the local taxing districts — county, municipality, school district and any special districts. In Bristol County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $4,685 on a median home value of $421,800.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Bristol County, Massachusetts?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Bristol County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.