Aquinnah, MA: town finances
Low debt and solid savings (9.7% of budget); 6 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 64% of MA towns · score 83 of 100
Small town: figures are volatile, and its score is pulled toward the state median.
Ability to pay
Top 10% for income; second homes inflate property value here
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $85,458 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $2,211,660 (DLS 2024).
Chance of an override vote
5 points on our 0-8 scale: Low 0-2, Medium 3-4, High 5+. It ranks towns; it is not a percentage.
Key numbers
| Measure | Aquinnah | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $12,677 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 8.7% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 6.75% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (3 votes) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 9.7% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.00% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 0.13% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | +2% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 7.4 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | Fewer than 5 sales | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | - | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $146,354 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 444 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Up-Island Regional (regional district shared with 3 towns). Shaded = worse than the median town on tax bill share or enrollment. Medians are across all 351 towns with data.
Why this budget grade
Budget grade B, solid (83/100; better than 64% of MA towns): reserves averaged 9.7% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.00% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.00% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 0% of budget (median 1.3%). 100% of debt payments are voter-approved and paid outside the cap. Small town: figures are volatile, and its score is pulled toward the state median.
Why this chance of an override vote
Chance of an override vote: High (5 pts): almost no unused room under the tax cap (0.13% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2024-05 (+2).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -1.2% last year; enrollment +2% over 5 yrs; regional district shared with 3 towns; tax bill 8.7% of median income (state median 6.4%).
"pts" are points toward the chance of an override vote. Max levy is the most the town can raise without a vote under Prop 2½. See how the budget grade works.
Override votes since July 2016
| Vote date | Result | Amount | Purpose (as listed by DLS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2024 | Passed | $330,000 | To Allow The Town Of Aquinnah To Assess The Additional $330,000 In Taxes For The Purpose Of Funding The Upisland And Martha'S Vineyard Regional School Districts |
| May 11, 2023 | Passed | $110,000 | Operating The Up-Island Regional Schools |
| May 12, 2022 | Passed | $200,000 | Overide |
| May 15, 2020 | Passed | $375,000 | Costs Related To Up-Island Regional School And Martha'S Vineyard Regional Hs |
| May 9, 2018 | Passed | $325,000 | Funding Increase In Towns Share Of Costs Related To Up-Island Regional School District |
| May 10, 2017 | Passed | $110,000 | Funding Towns Operating Budget |
Source: MA DLS Proposition 2½ override vote file, as of 25 Oct 2026. One ballot can carry several questions.
See this town in the full data table →