Assessor's Office

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & PAGES:

• Online Property Cards
• Franklin County Registry of Deeds
• Board of Assessors' page

How the Assessors Determine Value

Valuation in Massachusetts is based on “full and fair cash value,” the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller on the open market. Assessors must collect, record, and analyze a great deal of information about property and market characteristics in order to estimate the fair market value of all taxable properties in their communities. Properties such as churches and educational institutions are also valued, even though they are exempt from taxation.The state of Massachusetts requires that every five years the Assessors submit the values to the Department of Revenue for certification. Assessors must also maintain the values in the years between certification (interim years). This is done so that each property taxpayer in the community pays their fair share of the cost of local government – no more or less – in proportion to the amount of money their property is worth. The town is also required to conduct cyclical inspections of all properties every ten years.