If you're buying a home in Chestnut Hill, MA, the first thing to know is that Chestnut Hill isn't a town. It's a village that crosses three municipalities: Newton, Brookline, and Boston. Every home there shares the 02467 ZIP code, but the town line decides your property tax rate, school district, zoning rules, and which registry records your deed.

Key takeaways

• Chestnut Hill is split among Newton (Middlesex County), Brookline (Norfolk County), and Boston (Suffolk County). A "Chestnut Hill, MA" mailing address doesn't tell you which one.
• Fiscal 2026 residential tax rates: Newton $9.69, Brookline $10.24, and Boston $12.40 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to each community's assessor.
• Brookline and Boston offer a residential exemption to owner-occupants. On a $1.5 million home you live in, that can make the Brookline bill lower than the Newton bill, even with the higher rate.
• Check the assessor's database for any address before you make an offer. It takes two minutes.

Is Chestnut Hill in Newton, Brookline, or Boston?

Chestnut Hill is in all three. It has no government of its own, and its borders roughly follow the 02467 ZIP code, so two homes a few minutes apart can be governed by different municipalities. Even Boston College is split, with its upper campus in Newton and its lower campus in Boston.

Here's the short version of what changes when you cross the line:

Examples are illustrations using FY2026 rates and exemption amounts. Actual bills depend on the assessed value, not the price you pay, and FY2027 rates will be set this winter.

How much are property taxes in Chestnut Hill?

Property taxes in Chestnut Hill depend entirely on which municipality the home sits in. For fiscal 2026, Newton's residential rate is $9.69 per $1,000, Brookline's is $10.24, and Boston's is $12.40, according to the City of Newton, the Town of Brookline, and the City of Boston.

The rate alone doesn't tell the whole story. Brookline and Boston both offer a residential exemption to people who own and live in their home:

• Brookline takes $354,974 off the assessed value of a qualifying home for FY2026, according to the Town of Brookline Assessor. At the $10.24 rate, that's roughly $3,635 a year.
• Boston saved qualified owners up to $4,353.74 for FY2026. We broke down how it works in our post on the Boston residential exemption for new homeowners.
• Newton didn't include a residential exemption in its FY2026 tax classification materials. Confirm with the Newton Assessing Department before you budget.

Our take (light POV): if you're comparing two similar homes on opposite sides of the line, run the tax math for your situation. An owner-occupant and an investor can reach opposite conclusions about the same two houses.

How do I find out which town a Chestnut Hill home is in?

The fastest way is to look up the address in the local assessor's database. If it comes up in one community's records, that's where the home is taxed. Your agent can also confirm it from the MLS listing, which shows the actual town, not just the mailing address.

Where to check:

• Newton: the City of Newton Assessing Department's online property database
• Brookline: the Town of Brookline property database
• Boston: Boston Property Lookup

Do this before you write an offer, not after. The town affects your carrying costs, your school district, and what you're allowed to build or change later.

Buying a home in Chestnut Hill: what kinds of homes are there?

Chestnut Hill has a wide range of housing, from historic single-family homes on large lots to full-service condo buildings. Much of the village was built out between 1880 and 1910, so you'll see Georgian, Colonial Revival, Shingle, Tudor Revival, and Victorian homes, plus condos near the reservoir and along Route 9.

Two condo buildings come up often:

• The Towers of Chestnut Hill, a 423-residence high-rise at 250 Hammond Pond Parkway on the Newton side, built in 1978, with a 24-hour concierge and an indoor pool.
• The Waterworks at Chestnut Hill, 112 residences at 2400-2450 Beacon Street on the Boston side, completed in 2007 in and around restored 19th-century waterworks buildings.

Transit is a real plus. The Green Line's B, C, and D branches all reach the area, and Route 9 is the main east-west road.

Are there rules that change from one side of Chestnut Hill to the other?

Yes. Zoning, historic district rules, and permitting are all local, so they follow the town line. Before you plan a renovation, an addition, or an ADU, check the rules for the community the home is actually in.

A few examples:

• Newton has a Chestnut Hill Local Historic District, established in 1991, that reviews many exterior changes, according to the City of Newton. If you're thinking about an accessory unit, see our guide to building an ADU in Newton.
• Brookline Town Meeting approved zoning in May 2026 for a mixed-use redevelopment at 1280-1330 Boylston Street (Route 9), across from The Street. The plan includes 266 residential units, a 200-room hotel, medical office, and retail, according to the Boston Business Journal. If you're buying nearby, ask about construction timing.
• Boston handles zoning and permits through the City of Boston, separate from Newton and Brookline.

What this means for buyers

• Confirm the town first. It changes your tax bill, school district, and renovation rules.
• Price your carrying costs both ways. If the seller has a residential exemption and you won't live there, your bill will be higher than theirs.
• Compare across the line. A slightly higher price on one side can be offset by a lower tax bill.

What this means for sellers

• Name your town in the listing description. Buyers searching "Chestnut Hill" want to know which one.
• Show the tax picture clearly. If your bill includes a residential exemption, say so, so buyers aren't surprised.
• Know what's changing nearby. Development news on Route 9 will come up in showings. Have a clear answer ready.

Frequently asked questions

What ZIP code is Chestnut Hill, MA?
Chestnut Hill uses 02467. That ZIP code covers parts of Newton, Brookline, and Boston, so it can't tell you which municipality a home is in.

Is Boston College in Chestnut Hill?
Yes. Boston College's main campus sits in Chestnut Hill, with the upper campus in Newton and the lower campus in Boston.

Do I pay Newton, Brookline, or Boston taxes if my address says Chestnut Hill?
You pay taxes to whichever municipality the property is actually in. The mailing address doesn't change that, so check the assessor's database.

Can I get a residential exemption on a Chestnut Hill home?
If the home is on the Brookline or Boston side and you own and live in it as your primary residence, you can apply. Brookline's FY2027 deadline is April 1, 2027. Newton's FY2026 tax classification materials didn't include one, so confirm with the Newton Assessing Department.

Which county is Chestnut Hill in?
It depends on the side. The Newton portion is in Middlesex County, the Brookline portion is in Norfolk County, and the Boston portion is in Suffolk County.

Thinking about buying or selling in Chestnut Hill?

Chestnut Hill is one of the most interesting markets around Boston because three sets of rules meet in one village. If you'd like help comparing homes across the line, or you want to know how your home stacks up before you list, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Warren Residential works with buyers and sellers in Chestnut Hill, Newton, Brookline, and across Boston. Reach out to our team here and we'll help you sort it out.