This website provides detailed information on the state of Massachusetts. Scroll down to view a wide range of state-specific information. You may also access websites for individual communities within the state.
Massachusetts Cities & Towns
Visit a community website to access detailed information on each community, including...
- Real Estate For Sale
- Community Profiles and Historic Information
- Virtual Community Tours
- School and Demographic Information
- Home Buyer and Home Seller Guides
- Relocation Tools
- Realtors Servicing MA
Select a community from the list below to visit that community's website.
Buying & Selling Real Estate In MA
The Massachusetts Real Estate Market
Massachusetts 2010 Market Report
Cape Cod MA 2010 Market Report
Transfer Tax
Real Estate transfer taxes are paid by the seller for homes sold in the state of Massachusetts. $4.56 is paid per $1,000 of sale price and is charged to the seller at closing.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are required in homes sold in Massachusetts. Sellers are responsible for making sure they are in compliance and for obtaining an inspection and certificate by the local fire department. The location and type of detectors are specified by state law. Local cities and towns may have additional requirements beyond the state regulations.
Property Taxes
Property tax rates are determined by individual cities and towns. The local assessor's office will establish a taxable value of a property (also known as assessed value) for the purpose of calculating taxes. View a list of local tax rates at the Department of Revenue website.
Most cities/towns issue tax bills quarterly on February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st. Each bill covers the previous month, current month, and subsequent month. For example, the February bill covers January, February, and March. The tax year does not coincide with a calendar year, and two out of the 4 bills are normally estimated. Towns establish the tax rate for the year after the first two billing periods have passed.
Homes for Sale
The Multiple Listing System (MLS) is the database into which almost all homes for sale are entered. There are several MLS systems in the state of Massachusetts. Virtual Homes is a member of multiple systems. Through our town real estate websites, you can access all homes for sale across multiple MLS's.
Real Estate Agents
Agents (both buyer agents and listing agents) must be licensed by the state of Massachusetts to practice real estate. Becoming a REALTOR is optional. All agents at Virtual Homes are members of the Board of Realtors and abide by a strict code of ethics and conduct.
Overview
Massachusetts has about 200 miles (322 km) of coastline. But if you count all its bays and inlets and tidal waters, the shoreline is ten times longer. Glaciers from the North shaped the state's many bays. Cape Cod and the offshore islands are terminal moraines, sandy ridges piled along the leading edges of the ice.
Cape Code, named by navigator Bartholomew Gosnold after he explored the area in 160, present and arm of glacial sand and gravel to pounding Atlantic waves. Snow dust the evergreen ridges of Mount Greylock in the Berkshire Hills while autumn lingers on lower slopes and valleys.
Climate
Massachusetts' weather changes from season to season and from one side of the state to the other. The sprawling coastline, the Cape and the islands tend to be much milder than the mountainous western side of the state.
Winter
Winters in Massachusetts range in average temperatures depending on in which part of the state you are. Highs range from the low to high 30s, and lows are anywhere from the low teens to the mid 20s. The season usually begins in December and goes through the end of February, with snow attracting visitors to the western region of the state to ski, snowshoe and snowmobile, and to the Boston area to see a show in the theater district or to simply revel in the hustling and bustling beauty of the holiday season.
Temperatures tend to be a bit warmer on the coast then they are inland. Although there are some periods of mid-40 degree temperatures and sunshine, temperatures are generally hovering around freezing or below, so make sure you are prepared with plenty of extra layers of clothing when enjoying the New England Patriots football team at Foxboro Stadium!
Spring
Temperatures begin to rise in March, meaning spring is right around the corner! Average temperatures from March to May range from lows in the 30s to highs in the 50s, creating a perfect environment for spring skiing, biking or hiking. In Boston, spring signals the return of the Swan Boats in Boston Common, and in the rest of the state, birds return from winters in the south, leaves begin to appear on trees and flowers pop up from their winter slumber.
Snow is still a possibility, but there's just a good a chance of being able to finally air out your home and your car with temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s. Lighter jackets or sweaters are appropriate attire for enjoying the Boston Red Sox's opening day at Fenway Park or the Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village.
Summer
June marks the beginning of summer in Massachusetts. Temperatures range from lows in the 50s to highs in the high 70s or 80s. The ocean breeze tends to keep the coast and islands a bit cooler than the rest of the state, which can be refreshing as the temperatures begin to soar. This being the case, the coastline, the Cape and the Islands are extremely popular vacation spots in the summer. The Berkshires are also a bit cooler, providing the perfect temperatures for exploring mountain streams and trails and for camping.
Lightweight clothes or shorts are usually quite comfortable during the day, and you may find it handy to have a light sweater after the sun goes down.
Fall
In September and October, temperatures begin to drop and Mother Nature creates a masterpiece with some of the most gorgeous foliage in the country. Average temperatures range anywhere from lows in the high 30s or low 40s to the 60s. Leaf-peepers travel from all over the country to see the foliage in the fall, and one Massachusetts town in particular is a Mecca for tourists around Halloween — Salem, home of the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century.
At night you will start to see smoke coming out of chimneys, as the air can get quite brisk. Sweaters or long sleeve shirts are quite often perfectly comfortable during the day, but you will probably want to have a jacket on hand at night, and an ice scraper for your car nearby in preparation for the first frost!
Weather Central
http://www.bostonusa.com/visitor/seasons.htm
http://boston.citygo.info/boston/weather/
Forecast Weather
Boston Channel
Population:
Massachusetts' population is just under 6.5 million people. Almost 10% of the entire population of the state resides in the largest city — and state capital — Boston. As a matter of fact, the population of Boston alone is larger than the entire populations of nine of Massachusetts' 14 counties.
Massachusetts population estimates by county for 2003 are as follows:
Barnstable – 229,545
Berkshire – 133,310
Bristol – 547,008
Dukes – 15,601
Essex – 737,848
Franklin – 72,204
Hampden – 461,190
Hampshire – 155,101
Middlesex – 1,471,724
Nantucket – 10,724
Norfolk – 654,331
Plymouth – 487,521
Suffolk – 680,705
Worcester – 776,610
(Courtesy of the Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, April 9,2004)
http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2003-01-25.pdf
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000lk.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/25001.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/2507000.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html
Massachusetts City Rating
Government
Massachusetts' capitol is Boston, situated on the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern border of the state.
The state government has three branches:
Executive
- The Massachusetts Executive Branch is headed by the Governor.
- Executive Offices are each headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor, like the president's Cabinet.
- The Governor's Council (also called the Executive Council) is composed of:
- The Lieutenant Governor who acts as governor in the event that the governor cannot perform his or her duties.
- Eight councilors elected from councilor districts for a two-year term.
- The Governor's Council (also called the Executive Council) is composed of:
- Constitutional Officers of Massachusetts - elected for four-year terms and are as follows, in order of their succession:
- The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Keeper of the Great Seal and custodian of the records of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- The Attorney General
- The Treasurer and Receiver
- The Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Legislative
- "The Great and General Court," elected every two years, is made up of:
- A Senate of 40 members
- A House of Representatives of 160 members
- Joint committees of the General Court are made up of:
- Six senators
- 15 representatives.
- Each committee has a Senate and House Chair
Judicial
- Massachusetts judicial appointments are held to the age of seventy.
- The Supreme Judicial Court consists of:
- A Chief Justice
- Six Associate Justices.
- It is the highest court in the Commonwealth
- The Supreme Judicial Court consists of:
- The Superior Court consists of:
- A Chief Justice
- 66 Associate Justices.
- It is the highest department of the Trial Court.
- Other departments are:
- District Court
- Housing Court
- Juvenile Court
- Land Court
- Probate Court
Local
- Cities are governed by Mayors and City Councils.
- The towns are usually governed by Selectmen:
- Usually elected for a one-or-two-year term.
- Town meetings, a tradition from Colonial times, are still held regularly.
Taxes
Personal Tax Guides
Sales Tax
Meal Tax
Motor Fuel Excise Tax
Cigarette Tax
Alcohol Tax
Automobile Excise Tax Frequently Asked Questions
Automobile Excise Tax
Estate Tax
For more information on taxes in general, contact:
Department of Revenue
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 887-MDOR (6367)
1-800-392-6089 (Local)
Tax Assistance
Licenses and Fees
In the state of Massachusetts, motorists must submit information to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Licenses are easily transferred from other states with proof of residency. All vehicles must be insured before it can be registered (your insurance company can provide the necessary paperwork to register your vehicle). Competitive rates are available, so be sure to shop around.
Driver's Licenses
Vehicle Registrations
Vehicle Inspections
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Fishing and Hunting Licenses
Boat and Recreational Vehicle Licenses
Gun Permit Frequently Asked Questions
Gun Permit Licenses
Attorney License Information
Real Estate Agents and Brokers Licensing Information
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