Somerville Property Records Database

Somerville property records are recorded at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. The registry is just a short trip from Somerville and holds all deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents for the city. Somerville also runs its own assessing department that tracks property values, tax rates, and exemption programs. You can search deed records for free at MassLandRecords.com and check assessor data through the city's online database. Both tools are open to the public at no charge. Somerville has one of the highest residential exemptions in the state, which can lower your tax bill if you live in the property you own.

Middlesex South Registry for Somerville

Somerville property records are filed at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds at 208 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. The office handles recordings for more than 44 cities and towns in the southern half of Middlesex County. Register Maria C. Curtatone runs the office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The phone number is (617) 679-6300 and the email is middlesexsouth@sec.state.ma.us.

Every deed, mortgage, lien, and homestead filing for a Somerville property goes through this registry. Each document gets a book and page number when it is recorded. That reference becomes the way to find it in the system going forward. You can search all Somerville records through MassLandRecords.com using name search, property search, or document search. The full scanned image of each document is free to view and print.

Somerville Assessing Department

The Somerville Assessing Department handles all property valuations in the city. You can reach them at 617-625-6600 extension 3100 or email assessing@somervillema.gov. They set the assessed value for each property and manage exemption applications.

Somerville runs an online assessor database where you can search by address or owner name. The address field has autocomplete, which makes it easy to find your property. Free registration gives you access to the full dataset, though basic searches work without an account. Results show assessed values, building details, lot info, and ownership data. The database updates each fiscal year when new assessments are certified.

Somerville's FY 2025 residential tax rate is $10.91 per $1,000 of assessed value. The commercial rate is $18.92 per $1,000. What sets Somerville apart is its residential exemption program. The city offers a maximum 35% residential exemption, the highest in Massachusetts. If you own and live in your Somerville home as your primary residence, this exemption reduces your taxable value by 35% of the average assessed value in the city. That can mean thousands of dollars off your annual tax bill.

The Somerville Assessing Department page provides links to the property database and exemption programs.

The department manages valuations for all residential and commercial properties in Somerville.

Somerville Property Tax Exemptions

Somerville offers a wide range of property tax exemptions beyond the residential exemption. Each has its own eligibility rules and application process. You apply through the assessing department, and deadlines matter, so do not wait too long in the fiscal year.

Available exemption programs include Clause 5C for the residential exemption, Clause 17D for elderly and surviving spouses at $344 plus a water discount, Clause 18 for hardship cases with a variable amount, Clause 22 for veterans ranging from $400 to 100% exemption, Clause 37A for blind residents at $500, Clause 41C for elderly homeowners at $1,000 plus a water discount, and Clause 41A for tax deferral that can defer up to 100% of taxes owed. Contact the office at 617-625-6600 x3100 to find out which ones you might qualify for.

Note: You must own and live in your Somerville property as your primary home to qualify for the residential exemption under Clause 5C.

Somerville Recording Fees

Recording fees for Somerville documents at the Middlesex South Registry follow the same state schedule used everywhere in Massachusetts. Deeds cost $155. Mortgages are $205. Discharges run $105. Homestead declarations cost just $35. The excise tax on deeds is $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price. Certified copies from the registry are $1.00 per page.

Under M.G.L. Chapter 183, your deed must be recorded at the registry to protect your ownership against third parties. Filing a homestead under M.G.L. Chapter 188 gives up to $1,000,000 in creditor protection on your primary residence. All Somerville land records are public under M.G.L. Chapter 66.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Somerville. Cambridge, Medford, and Malden also file at the Middlesex South Registry, while Boston uses the Suffolk County Registry.