Property Tax in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
The median real estate tax bill in Middlesex County, Massachusetts is $7,240 per year, and the median home is worth $687,200. Both figures are the US Census Bureau's survey medians for owner-occupied households (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What the Middlesex County numbers mean
Read the two medians together: $7,240 is the middle tax bill among owner-occupied households in Middlesex County, and $687,200 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 Middlesex County is 1.05% (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.
Middlesex County by the numbers
| Measure | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid | $7,240 | $5,813 | $2,969 |
| Median home value | $687,200 | $525,800 | $303,400 |
| Derived effective rate* | 1.05% | 1.11% | 0.98% |
| Median tax per month | $603 | $484 | $247 |
*Estimate derived from Census medians (tax ÷ value), not an official rate.
Middlesex County at a glance
- Median tax rank in Massachusetts: #1 of 14 counties
- Median home value rank in Massachusetts: #3 of 14
- Population rank in Massachusetts: #1 of 14 (1,622,896 residents)
- Population density rank: #2 of 14 (1,984 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in Massachusetts: #3 of 14 (817 sq mi, 10.5% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $603; per $1,000 of home value: $1.05
How Middlesex County compares
Of the 14 Massachusetts counties with published data, 0 have a higher median property tax bill than Middlesex County's $7,240, putting the county at #1 in the state. Its bill is about 25% higher than the state median of $5,813 and about 144% higher than the national median of $2,969.
Rates and values pull in opposite directions: an expensive housing market can produce big bills at ordinary rates. Here the derived rate is 1.05%, versus 0.98% derived nationally, and the median home value ranks #3 within Massachusetts.
Some extra context for Middlesex County: the median bill works out to about $603 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $1,054 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 1,622,896 people — the #1 most populous county in Massachusetts, spread over 817 square miles, a density of about 1,984 people per square mile. Its median home value, $687,200, ranks #3 among the state's 14 counties with data.
Zooming out: of 3133 counties nationwide with published Census figures, only 38 record a higher median tax bill than Middlesex County — it sits in the top 1% nationally. The county holds roughly 23.2% of Massachusetts's people. Its homes are worth more than the state norm (median $687,200 versus $525,800), and a decade at the derived rate of 1.05% adds up to about 10.54% of the median home's value in tax. The cheapest county in the state, Nantucket County, medians $2,985 — $4,255 less than Middlesex County per year.
Counties nearest Middlesex County in the Massachusetts ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk County, MA | $7,081 | $649,400 | 1.09% |
| Plymouth County, MA | $6,345 | $513,000 | 1.24% |
How the tax is worked out
As an illustration of the arithmetic: at Middlesex County's derived rate of 1.05%, a home valued at $400,000 would carry a tax bill of roughly $4,216 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 Middlesex County
Believe your assessment is too high? The practical order of attack is: obtain your record card and audit it line by line; collect comparable recent sales in Middlesex County; ask the assessor's office to correct anything plainly wrong; and, if the value still seems off, lodge a formal appeal ahead of the deadline printed on your assessment notice. Windows are short — often 30 to 90 days — and late appeals are usually rejected outright, however strong the case.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
The median real estate tax paid in Middlesex County, Massachusetts is $7,240 per year, on a median home value of $687,200 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Dividing Middlesex County's median tax bill ($7,240) by its median home value ($687,200) gives a derived effective rate of 1.05%. This is an estimate computed from two Census survey medians — it is not the county's official tax rate.
How does Middlesex County compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
By median taxes paid, Middlesex County stands at #1 among the 14 Massachusetts counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $7,240 median bill is about 25% higher than the state median ($5,813), and 0 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Middlesex 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 Middlesex County, the median outcome of that process is a bill of $7,240 on a median home value of $687,200.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Middlesex County, Massachusetts?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Middlesex 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.