At a glance
| Region | Lower Cape, between Dennis and Chatham, with Brewster to the north. Nantucket Sound is on the south side and Pleasant Bay is at the east end. |
|---|---|
| Villages | Harwich Center, Harwich Port, West Harwich, South Harwich, East Harwich, North Harwich and Pleasant Lake |
| Year-round population | 13,440 in the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate is 13,635 (U.S. Census QuickFacts). |
| Tax rate (residential) | FY2025: $5.91 per $1,000, a single rate for all classes (MMA community profile, DLS data). The Community Preservation Act surcharge is 3%. Confirm the FY2026 and FY2027 rates with the town's tax calculator or the Assessors. |
| Residential exemption | None found for Harwich. Confirm with the town assessor (Harwich departments). |
| Public water supplier(s) | Harwich Water Department. Some properties use private wells. |
| Sewer status | Partial and growing. Sewer is being built in East Harwich and along Route 137 (Pleasant Bay watershed), with wastewater treated at Chatham's plant under an intermunicipal agreement. Most of town is still on septic. See Septic & Sewer. |
| Nitrogen / watershed permit | Part of the Pleasant Bay Watershed Permit. MassDEP's 2026 table lists Notices of Intent for Wychmere Harbor, the Herring River, Saquatucket Harbor and Allen Harbor. See our septic & sewer guide. |
| School district | Monomoy Regional, shared with Chatham (DESE district profile) |
| Town website | harwich-ma.gov |
Villages & areas
Harwich covers about 21 square miles of land. Route 28 runs along the south side, close to Nantucket Sound. Route 39 crosses the middle of town from Harwich Center to East Harwich and Orleans, and Route 124 runs north to Brewster. Route 6 has exits on the north side. The Cape Cod Rail Trail crosses town, with a branch to Chatham.
Harwich Center
The historic town center is on Main Street (Route 39) and has Town Hall, the Brooks Free Library, churches and small shops. Housing nearby includes antique homes, village Capes, and mid-century and newer homes on the side streets.
Harwich Port
Harwich Port runs along Route 28 and Lower County Road. It has a small walkable business district, the town's best-known Sound beaches such as Bank Street Beach, and two harbors: Wychmere Harbor and Allen Harbor. Housing includes cottages and summer homes near the beaches, year-round village homes, condos and some waterfront properties.
West Harwich and South Harwich
West Harwich borders Dennis Port at the Herring River, a tidal river with marsh and its own watershed. South Harwich sits between Harwich Port and Chatham and includes Red River Beach and the area around Saquatucket Harbor, home to the town's municipal marina. Expect a mix of beach cottages, ranches and Capes, condos along Route 28, and waterfront homes on the rivers and the Sound.
East Harwich
East Harwich is the area around Routes 39 and 137 near the Orleans and Chatham lines. It has a commercial node at the intersection and reaches Pleasant Bay at Round Cove and Muddy Creek. This is where Harwich's first big round of sewer construction is happening. Housing is mostly single-family homes from the 1970s on, on wooded lots, plus some bay-front and pond-front homes.
North Harwich and Pleasant Lake
These quieter inland areas are near Route 6 and the Brewster line. They have cranberry bogs, conservation land and large freshwater ponds, including Long Pond, Seymour Pond and Hinckleys Pond. The Cape Cod Rail Trail passes through Pleasant Lake. Lots tend to be larger, and private wells are more likely here, so ask.
Septic & Sewer
Most of Harwich is still on septic, so expect a Title 5 inspection on most sales. The town's Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan was approved in 2016. It identifies five watersheds that need nitrogen removal: Pleasant Bay, the Herring River, Allen Harbor, Wychmere Harbor and Saquatucket Harbor (Cape Cod Chronicle, July 2026).
- Where sewer is now: Sewer is operating in sections of East Harwich, and the town's Phase 2 work runs along Route 137. Harwich sends East Harwich wastewater to Chatham's treatment plant under an intermunicipal agreement. In mid-2026 the town reported it was nearing 37% of its Pleasant Bay nitrogen goal.
- What's next: An updated plan adds Phase 4, starting around 2029, in an eight-phase program. The town is still looking for sites to recharge treated effluent and has talked with Dennis about treatment. Estimates in the July 2026 article put sewer for Phases 4–8 at about $280 million (2025 dollars), with treatment and recharge on top of that. Timelines will move.
- Connection orders: Owners in East Harwich got connection notices in waves. In early 2024 the deadline for one group was extended to March 1, 2025 (Cape Cod Chronicle). If you buy in a sewered area, ask the seller whether the house is connected and, if not, whether a Board of Health order is open.
- Costs: The town posts sewer bill estimates, street maps and a homeowner connection guidebook on its Wastewater Information page. The private connection from the house to the street is the owner's cost. Barnstable County's AquiFund loan program can cover sewer connections.
Ask the Health Department for the septic file, check the Phase 2 and Phase 3 maps for the specific street, and ask your attorney to address any pending connection order, sewer charge or septic repair in the purchase and sale agreement. Our septic, sewer & nitrogen guide covers the regional rules.
Water, Flood & Environment
Water: The Harwich Water Department supplies most homes from groundwater wells. Ask for its latest annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) for PFAS and other results. Properties in the more rural northern areas may be on private wells. Test any well during your inspection period. See our water & flood guide.
Flood: The Nantucket Sound shore, the three harbors, the Herring River and Red River marshes, and the Pleasant Bay shoreline in East Harwich all include FEMA flood zones. Check any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get a flood insurance quote early.
Ponds, bogs and conservation: Harwich has many kettle ponds and active and retired cranberry bogs. Work near wetlands, ponds or the coast usually needs Conservation Commission review. Pleasant Bay is a state Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which can add review for shoreline projects.
Living here
- Beaches and stickers: Town beaches on the Sound include Bank Street, Red River and others, plus pond beaches inland. Resident beach parking permits are sold by the town. Check the town website for current rules and fees.
- Trash: Harwich runs a transfer station that requires a permit. Some neighborhoods use private haulers.
- Harbors and moorings: The Harbormaster manages Saquatucket, Wychmere and Allen harbors, town slips and moorings. Buying a waterfront home does not come with a slip or mooring, so ask about waitlists first.
- Getting around: Routes 28, 39, 124, 137 and Route 6. The Cape Cod Rail Trail runs through town. CCRTA buses serve the Route 28 corridor. A seasonal passenger ferry to Nantucket runs from Saquatucket Harbor; check current schedules.
- Healthcare: The nearest full-service hospital is Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. There are medical offices and urgent care nearby on the Lower Cape.
- Short-term rentals: Check the town website for any local registration rules, and ask your attorney about state short-term rental registration and tax requirements.
Official links
- Town of HarwichMain town website · Town of Harwich
- Tax CalculatorEstimate a tax bill at the current rate · Town of Harwich
- Department directoryConfirm with town: Assessors, Health, Building, Town Clerk, Veterans' Services · Town of Harwich
- Wastewater InformationSewer phase maps, connection guidebook, CWMP · Town of Harwich
- Water DepartmentWater service and quality reports · Town of Harwich
- HarbormasterMoorings, slips, harbors · Town of Harwich
- Conservation CommissionWetlands and coastal permitting · Town of Harwich
- Community DevelopmentPlanning and zoning · Town of Harwich
- Transfer StationPermits and rules · Town of Harwich
- Pleasant Bay Watershed PermitShared nitrogen permit with Brewster, Chatham and Orleans · Pleasant Bay Alliance
- Harwich community profileGovernment form, area, tax data · Massachusetts Municipal Association
Questions about buying in Harwich?
Call or text Sherman at 508-534-3425 or send a message.