Residential tax rate
FY2026$10.98
per $1,000 of assessed value / year
Equivalent base rate 1.098%
Based on the municipal assessment. Exemptions, any CPA surcharge and other bill adjustments affect the final bill.
Official certified rates ↗
GREATER BOSTON · KELLY CUI
Somerville is organized around its squares, and the Green Line Extension added stations at Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, to the Red Line at Davis and the Orange Line at Assembly.
A city of squares, now with Green Line stations, and its own condo conversion rules.
Cambridge & the inner suburbs · COMMUNITY GUIDE
Somerville is organized around its squares, and the Green Line Extension added stations at Union Square, East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, to the Red Line at Davis and the Orange Line at Assembly. The City has its own rules on converting rental units to condominiums and one of the largest residential exemptions in Massachusetts.
SOMERVILLE · AT A GLANCE
Population, housing and local identity.
LOCAL IDENTITY
Somerville became a city in 1872. The British removal of gunpowder from the Old Powder House in 1774 was a notable event leading up to the American Revolution.

Income is household income, not an individual salary. Home value is a Census estimate for owner-occupied housing, not a current sale-price median. Gross rent includes contract rent and applicable utility and fuel costs. These citywide statistics are not quotes for a specific home.
PROPERTY TAX & EXEMPTIONS
Somerville · Latest certified rate as of 2026-10-29.
$10.98
per $1,000 of assessed value / year
Equivalent base rate 1.098%
Based on the municipal assessment. Exemptions, any CPA surcharge and other bill adjustments affect the final bill.
Official certified rates ↗Available · eligibility applies
Residential Exemption
The municipality has adopted a 35% exemption, calculated from its average residential assessed value. It is not 35% off your own home’s value or tax bill.
Ownership, principal-residence dates and application requirements must be met. Confirm the current-year amount with the assessor.
Official exemption information ↗Available · eligibility applies
Personal / Statutory Exemptions
Programs cover qualifying older residents, legally blind owners, certain veterans and eligible surviving spouses or minor children. Requirements differ by program.
Age, residency, ownership, income or assets may be considered. An individual owner is not automatically eligible; check the local application and deadline.
Eligibility & applications ↗Residential exemption adoption: Massachusetts DLS local-options report. Personal relief: the municipal assessor. Tax deferral postpones payment; it does not cancel the tax. DLS local options ↗
EXPLORE THE AREA
GETTING AROUND

STATIONS AT A GLANCE
Selected boarding points, grouped by line. Not every stop is shown; this is not a scale map.
View the network maps ↗Stations serving the area
Somerville has several distinct rail corridors: Red at Davis, Orange at Assembly, Green D at Union Square, and Green E through East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square. Ball Square is near the Medford boundary.
MBTA · OFFICIAL MAP
The complete official rapid transit map, including key bus routes. Open the full-size map or PDF to read station names.
© MBTA · 2026-06-14 · Official network map. MBTA maps ↗
Nearby connection outside the area
Somerville has no local Commuter Rail station. Nearby Porter is in Cambridge and serves the Fitchburg Line; it is a connection option, not a Somerville station.
MBTA · OFFICIAL MAP
The complete official Commuter Rail network, with stations and Boston terminals. Use the route pages for current schedules and service changes.
© MBTA · 2025-03-24 · Official network map. MBTA maps ↗
Do not treat all Green Line stops as interchangeable. Check the branch and any transfer needed for your destination.
Selected stations are shown above. Open the MBTA line or station page for the full route, current timetable, accessibility and parking. Service patterns can change.
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
Compare schools listed in Somerville, including public charter schools where present. Confirm school assignment and eligibility for the exact home address, grade and school year.
CHECK THE EXACT ADDRESS
The official page links the current Street Directory; proximity and final assignment are not the same.
Select a school or a map pin to see its address and school details.
School names are shown on the map. Zoom in or filter by level to separate nearby labels. Multi-level schools appear in each relevant filter.
Loading map. School addresses and official links are also available in the cards below.
Locations, not attendance boundaries. One contact or main campus location is shown per school; some schools have additional campuses. Charter schools follow their own enrollment process. MassGIS ↗
Public school
Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
290 Washington Street, Somerville MA 02143 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Arthur D Healey is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
5 Meacham Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Benjamin G Brown is a public school in Somerville, serving k – grade 5.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
201 Willow Avenue, Somerville MA 02144 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Capuano Early Childhood Center is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 1.
No published 2026 MCAS results for these tested grades.
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
150 Glen Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
E Somerville Community is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
50 Cross Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Full Circle High School is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 9 – grade 12.
No published 2026 MCAS results for these tested grades.
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
81 Highland Ave Full Circle, Somerville MA 02143 ↗
Share of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.
DESE graduation report ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
John F Kennedy is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
5 Cherry Street, Somerville MA 02144 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Next Wave Junior High is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 7 – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
81 Highland Ave Next Wave Junior High, Somerville MA 02143 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Somerville High is a public school in Somerville, serving grade 9 – grade 12.
MCAS 2026 · Grade 10
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
81 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA 02143 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Share of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.
DESE graduation report ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
West Somerville Neighborhood is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
177 Powderhouse Blvd, Somerville MA 02144 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Winter Hill Community is a public school in Somerville, serving pre-k – grade 8.
MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
8 Bonair Street, Somerville MA 02145 ↗
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
No schools match these filters. Try another name or reset the filters.
Enrollment and student/teacher ratios use the stated school year. The 2026 DESE percentile runs from 1 to 99 and is not a score out of 100. A dash means the figure was not reported.
GreatSchools and Niche publish their own ratings and reviews. Open their sites to search a school; those ratings are separate from DESE data.
School contacts and operating status: DESE school profiles, October 29, 2026. Enrollment and ratios: the year shown on each card. Accountability: DESE 2026, October 20 release. Addresses are official contact addresses; some schools have more than one campus. MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS.
LIVING IN SOMERVILLE
Look closer at local homes, daily routines and ownership responsibilities.
Somerville is usually described by its squares, and the City plans that way too: it has adopted area plans for Union Square, Winter Hill, Assembly Square, Brickbottom, Gilman Square and Lowell Street. Rapid transit reaches the city at Davis on the Red Line, Assembly on the Orange Line, Union Square at the end of the Green Line D branch, and East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square and Ball Square, at the Medford line, on the E branch, which the Green Line Extension opened.
Bus routes cover much of the rest, including routes 80, 87, 88, 89 and 90. Map the trip you make most often from each candidate address and time it at the hour you would travel. If an area plan covers the address, read what it proposes for the blocks around it, because those plans shape what may change nearby.
Much of Somerville's housing is in two- and three-family houses, many divided into condominiums, alongside newer buildings. In an older building, ask about the roof, heating, windows and foundation; in a newer one, ask what remains under warranty and whether the association's budget reflects the real cost of running the building. For a condominium, review the 6(d) certificate, budget and reserves, what the fee covers, parking and storage, and the rules on leasing and pets.
Converting rental units to condominiums is regulated by the City's Condominium Review Board. Under amendments in effect from October 1, 2025, an owner must give the Board two years' notice before receiving a final permit to convert a vacant, formerly tenanted unit, and relocation payments for tenants were raised. For applications submitted on or after that date, the City lists $14,000 or $18,000 for tenants who move out from October 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, and $14,378 or $18,486 from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; the higher amount applies to tenants entitled to enhanced protections, and the amounts are adjusted every February. If you are buying a recently converted unit, ask for the conversion permit; if you are buying a multi-family house with conversion in mind, read the ordinance first. If you rent out a unit, the City's Housing Stability Notification Act requires two different notices of rights and resources: one to a new tenant at the start of the tenancy, and a separate one at the end of a tenancy.
Somerville has local historic districts, where exterior changes need a Historic Preservation permit, and its demolition review ordinance applies to buildings more than 75 years old. If you plan exterior work, an addition or a teardown, check the address with the Historic Preservation office before you count on the plan.
Look up the exact address on FEMA's flood maps. If a home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and you finance it with a federally regulated or federally backed loan, the lender will generally require flood insurance, so get a quote before you settle the budget.
Public school assignment depends on the exact address. Confirm the assigned schools for any home you are considering directly with Somerville Public Schools, and use the state education department's (DESE) district profile for official enrollment and program information.
Somerville's FY2026 residential rate is $10.98 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $1,098 a year for each $100,000 of assessment before exemptions. The City's residential exemption for owner-occupants was 35% in FY2026, saving a qualifying owner up to $4,578. To qualify, you must own the home and occupy it as your principal residence on January 1 before the fiscal year, and you must apply; the City lists April 1, 2027 as the FY2027 deadline. A unit you rent out does not qualify, so if you buy a multi-family house and live in one unit, ask the assessor how the exemption applies.
For a condominium, add the monthly fee and any planned assessments to the tax, and check whether the seller's bill reflects the exemption, since your own bill may differ. Check the assessor for the current fiscal year's rate before you budget.
ON YOUR NEXT VISIT
PAST SALES
All 2 published closed-sale records for Somerville, including seller and buyer representation. Each card identifies Kelly’s role and the closing date.
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Somerville, MA
4 beds•2.5 baths•2,068 sq ft
Kelly · Seller representation · Jun 26, 2026
MLS PIN #73513845
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Somerville, MA
4 beds•3.5 baths•2,167 sq ft
Kelly · Buyer representation · Apr 29, 2025
MLS PIN #73336539
Official sources as of 2026-10-29. Tax figures are base amounts before exemptions, any Community Preservation Act surcharge or other bill adjustments; ask for the property’s latest bill. Figures such as tax rates and fares change; confirm school assignment, permits, zoning and travel for the exact address and intended date.
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