How to Write a Massachusetts Address (With Examples)

Address basics  |   |  2 min read

Here is how to write a mailing address in Massachusetts, with examples from Boston and Boston and the most common mistakes to avoid.

The standard format

RECIPIENT NAME STREET NUMBER AND NAME, UNIT CITY, MA ZIP CODE

The state is always written as MA, two capital letters with no periods. USPS prefers the city, state and ZIP on the same final line.

Example: Boston

Elizabeth Lewis 8668 Mill Blvd Boston, MA 02115

Example with an apartment in Boston

Jamal Johnson 3048 Center Dr Apt 12 Boston, MA 02115

Example with a PO Box

Michelle Rivera PO Box 870 Boston, MA 02115

PO Boxes often have their own ZIP code, separate from street addresses in the same town. Check the ZIP with the post office that holds the box.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing up MA with MD (Maryland) and ME (Maine). These codes look similar and cause misrouted mail.
  • Writing the full state name or an old abbreviation instead of MA.
  • Dropping the leading zero from the ZIP code in spreadsheets.
  • Putting the apartment number on a line below the street address.
  • Using a ZIP code from a neighboring city. One city can have many codes, but each street belongs to a specific one.

Counties and local details

Massachusetts is divided into 14 counties. The county does not appear in a mailing address, but it matters for sales tax, elections and some shipping rules, so many business systems store it separately.

Create realistic Massachusetts addresses for testing, with real cities, counties and ZIP codes.

Generate Massachusetts addresses