Boxford, MA: town finances
Low debt and solid savings (8.8% of budget); 4 override votes since 2016; an override vote possible.
Budget grade
Better than 75% of MA towns · score 87 of 100
Ability to pay
Top 25% for income and property value
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $89,974 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $354,379 (DLS 2024).
Chance of an override vote
4 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 | Boxford | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $13,673 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 6.8% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 3.48% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (3 votes) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 8.8% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.34% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 2.58% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | +3% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 11.2 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $947k (76 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +34.1% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $200,871 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 8,112 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Boxford. 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 (87/100; better than 75% of MA towns): reserves averaged 8.8% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.34% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.44% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 1.7% of budget (median 1.3%). 46% of debt payments are voter-approved and paid outside the cap.
Why this chance of an override vote
Chance of an override vote: Medium (4 pts): limited room under the tax cap (2.58% of max levy, +1); override votes since July 2016, latest 2025-05 (+2); voter-approved debt or capital increase passed since July 2021 (+1).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs +1.1% last year; enrollment +3% over 5 yrs; tax bill 6.8% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2025 | Passed | $410,400 | Budget Increase Masconomet Regional School District |
| May 20, 2025 | Passed | $420,000 | Budget Increase Boxord Elementary Schools |
| May 21, 2024 | Passed | $599,170 | Elementary School Budget Increase |
| May 9, 2023 | Passed | $265,216 | Budget Increase Elementary Schools |
| May 9, 2023 | Passed | $266,316 | Budget Increase Maconoment Regional School District |
| May 16, 2017 | Passed | $197,318 | Elementary 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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