Middlesex County and Lowell City property record for 686 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854
| Property Type | Duplex |
|---|---|
| Details | 4 bd · 3 ba · 2,236 sqft · built 1960 |
| Lot Size | 0.24 acres (10,454 sqft) |
| Owner | 2 Individual Names on File |
| Last Sale | $285,000 (Jun 2008) |
| Tax Bill | $6,861 (2026) |
| Deeds & Mortgages | Dec 2020 Refinance |
| Flood Zone | Zone X (moderate risk) |
| APN | M06264 |
| Primary APN | M06264 |
|---|---|
| Alternative APNs |
|
| Bedrooms | 4 Beds |
|---|---|
| Full Baths | 3 Baths |
| Total Rooms | 8 Rooms |
| Units | 2 Units |
| Stories | 2 Stories |
| Building Area | 2,236 sqft Living Area |
| Gross Area | 2,844 sqft |
| 1st Floor Area | 936 sqft |
| Basement Area | 936 sqft |
| Unfinished Basement | 936 sqft |
| Year Built | Built 1960 |
|---|---|
| Effective Year Built | Effective 1960 |
| Architectural Style | Duplex Single |
| Exterior Material | Wood Siding |
| Roof Type | Gable |
| Roof Material | Asphalt |
| Lot Area | 10,454 sqft (0.24 acres) |
| Heating System | Hot Water |
|---|---|
| Heating Fuel | Gas |
| Account Number | M06264 |
|---|---|
| Street Address | 686 VARNUM AVE |
| City | LOWELL |
| State | MA |
| Zip | 01854-2018 |
| Property Category | Residential |
| Property Type | Residential > Multi-Unit > Duplex |
| Local Zoning Code | SSF |
| Legal Block | 5880 |
| Legal Lot Number | 686 |
| Jurisdiction | LOWELL MA |
| Township / Civil Division | LOWELL |
| Census Block Group | 1 |
| Census Block | 1024 |
| Census Tract | 310602 |
686 Varnum Ave, a duplex, is owned and occupied by two individuals who bought it in June 2008.
Source: Middlesex County and Lowell City records, as of October 20, 2026
| Owner of Record | 2 Individual Names on File |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | 686 VARNUM AVE, LOWELL, MA 01854-2018 |
| Occupancy | Owner Occupied |
| Owner Type | Individual |
Owner names and exact recorded amounts are on file and can be viewed instantly on this page with a free 10-day trial.
| Deed Names | 2 Names on Deed |
|---|---|
| Last Sale | Jun 6, 2008 · Amount on File |
| Deed Sale | Jun 6, 2008 · Amount on File |
| Record Updated | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Document Type | Deed of Trust |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | LOWELL MA |
| Property Address | 686 VARNUM AVE, LOWELL, MA 01854-2018 |
| Transaction Type | Mortgage |
| Record Updated | Feb 5, 2021 |
| Name | Verified Name |
|---|
| Document Number | 35031-191 |
|---|---|
| Date | Dec 10, 2020 |
| Book Page | 35031/191 |
| Instrument | 64249 |
| Name | NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC |
|---|---|
| Type | Mortgage Company |
| Type | Stand-Alone Refinance |
|---|---|
| Amount | Amount on Record |
| Term | 253 Months |
| Due | Jan 1, 2042 |
The 2026 property tax bill for 686 Varnum Ave was $6,861, up 2.2% from the year before.
Source: Middlesex County and Lowell City assessment roll, as of April 14, 2026
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex County |
| Municipality | Lowell City |
| Unified School District | Lowell School District (PK - 12) |
| Year | Tax Bill | Assessed Value | Assessed Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $6,861.00 (+2.17%) | $604,500 (+3.35%) Land $192,200 Building $412,300 | $577,752 |
| 2025 | $6,715.00 (+9.47%) | $584,900 (+13.57%) Land $179,600 Building $405,300 | |
| 2024 | $6,134.00 (+5.36%) | $515,000 (+9.85%) Land $167,900 Building $347,100 | |
| 2023 | $5,822.00 | $468,800 Land $146,000 Building $322,800 |
Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.
FEMA maps place 686 Varnum Ave in Zone X, an area of moderate flood risk, within 100 ft of a high-risk flood zone.
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, effective September 10, 2026 · OpenFEMA NFIP redacted claims and policies, as of September 2026
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone X moderate risk |
|---|---|
| 500-Year Floodplain | Yes 0.2% annual chance |
| Nearest Special Flood Hazard Area | Zone AE, within 100 ft |
| Flood Insurance Requirement | Not required lenders may require it |
| Nearby Flood Policies | 333 units insured incl. 324 condo units |
| Nearby Flood Claims | 27 (1979–2015) |
| Claims Outside the SFHA | 5 of 27 |
| Most Recent Claim | Feb 2015 · other causes |
| Claims by Event |
|
Values are read at the parcel center point; flood claims are located to the census block group, not this parcel; lenders make the official flood determination.
Wildfire risk around 686 Varnum Ave is low, with a 0.01% annual chance of wildfire.
Source: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (2nd edition), as of 2024
| Wildfire Risk | Low lower than 80% of the US · above 57% of Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Wildfire Likelihood | 0.01% annual chance |
| Exposure | None beyond ember reach |
Values cover an area roughly 900 ft across, not the parcel itself; insurers use their own ratings.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, as of September 2026
| Water System | LOWELL REGIONAL WATER UTILITY serves 120,418 people · EPA ID MA3160000 |
|---|---|
| Water Source | Surface water |
| Last State Inspection | Dec 2023 |
| Lead | Under 1 ppb (2025) action level 15 ppb |
| Water Quality | None last 10 years |
|---|---|
| Treatment and Procedure | Corrosion control Jul 2017 |
| Monitoring and Reporting | 1 last 3 years |
Results are for the whole water system, not water tested at this address; lead at the tap also depends on the building's own pipes. This system sells water to local utilities; the supplier billing this address may be one of them.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, based on 218 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025
| Provider | Max Down / Up (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| Xfinity Cable | 2,000 / 250 |
| Verizon Fiber · Fixed Wireless in parts of the area | 980 / 880 |
May also be available: T-Mobile.
Search by:
By searching, you agree to: Terms • Privacy • Disclosures