The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 01081 sells for about $249,900, or $215 per square foot.
Prices are up +4.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 58 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,090 a month.
ZIP 01081 — Wales
The housing market in 01081 remains stable with low inventory and steady demand for rural, single-family homes. Prices have seen modest year-over-year growth, driven by limited supply rather than high transaction volume. The market is currently characterized by a lack of new development and a reliance on existing housing stock.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle who are comfortable with a longer commute to major employment centers.
Median prices moved up 4.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 58 days on market with 5.5 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
18% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.0% · poverty 5.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 3.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 01081, Wales, MA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Wales is a small, rural community with low reported crime rates that are significantly lower than the regional averages for Hampden County.
Public schools serving the area are part of the Tantasqua Regional School District, which generally maintains favorable ratings for its rural setting.
The area is primarily forested with moderate wildfire risk; flood risk is localized near the Wales Pond and surrounding wetlands.
Economic growth is limited due to the town's rural character, with most development focused on residential preservation rather than large-scale commercial expansion.
Property taxes are assessed by the Town of Wales based on a single-rate structure applied to all property classes, with no special MUD or PID districts.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving 30-45 minutes to reach employment hubs in Springfield or Sturbridge.
The area is defined by outdoor recreation, centered on Wales Pond for boating and fishing, and proximity to local hiking trails and state forests.
The rental market is very limited with low inventory, consisting mostly of single-family home rentals; vacancy pressure is high due to the lack of multi-family housing.
The local economy is largely residential, with residents commuting to larger regional employers in the Springfield and Worcester metropolitan areas.
Public transit is non-existent; the area relies entirely on private vehicle transportation via local roads connecting to Route 19 and I-84.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in the ZIP code.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Parcels are served by the Tantasqua Regional School District and local municipal utility services.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect the rural nature of the area and the associated risks of wildfire and storm damage.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Not applicable for ZIP level.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Sonny's Place4.513.5 mi
- Funcity Trampoline and Adventure Park4.119 mi
- 13th World Frightpark4.56.6 mi
- Escape the Pike (Escape Room Games)58.2 mi
- Batman - The Dark Knight4.620 mi
- Golden Corral Buffet & Grill4.115.1 mi
- MassMutual Center4.518.8 mi
- Harry A. Gampel Pavilion4.717.5 mi
- Sonny's Place4.513.5 mi
- Stafford Motor Speedway4.78.6 mi
- Old Sturbridge Village4.77.3 mi
- Bigelow Hollow State Park4.66.2 mi
- Wells State Park4.510.4 mi
- Echo Hill Orchards and Winery, LLC4.47.2 mi
- 508 International4.512.4 mi
- Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame4.518.7 mi
- Old Sturbridge Village4.77.3 mi
- Springfield Armory National Historic Site4.818.6 mi
- Springfield Museums4.718.8 mi
- The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum4.718.8 mi
- Bigelow Hollow State Park4.66.2 mi
- Wells State Park4.510.4 mi
- Thousand Trails Sturbridge3.66.7 mi
- Leadmine Mountain Trail (Main Entrance)4.77.4 mi
- Westville Recreation Area4.78.4 mi
- Point Breeze4.219.8 mi
- GREATHORSE4.810.7 mi
- Heritage Country Club4.211.5 mi
- Hemlock Ridge Golf Course4.45.7 mi
- Rice Fruit Farm4.411.3 mi
- Big Y4.39.5 mi
- Shaw's4.18.3 mi
- Yankee Flea Market4.67.8 mi
- Big Y48.1 mi
- Bradley International Airport4.425.1 mi
- Worcester Regional Airport4.623 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A central feature of the town providing fishing, boating, and scenic views.
A large protected area nearby offering extensive hiking trails and environmental education.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.