Bellingham, MA: town finances
Fair finances; below-typical savings (5.7% of budget vs 7.3% typical); 3 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 20% of MA towns · score 67 of 100
Ability to pay
Below the state median for income and property value
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $52,727 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $232,194 (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 | Bellingham | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $6,073 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 4.45% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (2 votes) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 5.7% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 1.05% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 0.04% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | +4% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 12.7 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $554k (152 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +53.9% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $125,307 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 17,407 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Bellingham. 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 C, fair (67/100; better than 20% of MA towns): reserves averaged 5.7% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 1.05% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (1.05% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 4.8% of budget (median 1.3%).
Why this chance of an override vote
Chance of an override vote: High (5 pts): almost no unused room under the tax cap (0.04% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2026-06 (+2).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs +4.2% last year; enrollment +4% over 5 yrs; tax bill 4.8% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2026 | Passed | $3,000,000 | Funding The Operating Budget Of The School Department For The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2026 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | Passed | $750,000 | Hiring 6 Paramedics And Purchasing Related Equipment. |
| Jun 9, 2020 | Passed | $1,500,000 | To Fund School 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 →
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