Massachusetts Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Paxton, on about 6% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Hinckley and Woodbridge come next.
About 57% of the land drains well, and 16% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 29% of it.
USDA rates 87% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 60% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 3% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 17% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Massachusetts, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
Massachusetts has 19 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols, making up roughly 67% of surveyed soils. Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes account for another 24%.
In terms of drainage, 42% of Massachusetts soils are classified as well drained. About 17% of soils have some form of poor drainage, which is important to consider for septic systems and foundations. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.