Charlemont, MA: town finances
Below-typical savings (5.3% of budget); override vote in 2022 and school costs outpacing the tax cap; an override vote possible.
Budget grade
Better than 42% of MA towns · score 77 of 100
Ability to pay
Bottom 25% for income and property value
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $44,798 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $164,728 (DLS 2024).
Chance of an override vote
3 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 | Charlemont | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $4,976 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 9.4% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 3.25% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (1 vote) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 5.3% | 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 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 19.13% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | -25% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 8.9 | 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) | $53,063 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 1,181 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Hawlemont (regional district shared with 2 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 C, fair (77/100; better than 42% of MA towns): reserves averaged 5.3% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.34% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.34% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 1.4% of budget (median 1.3%). 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: Medium (3 pts): override vote since July 2016, latest 2022-05 (+2); school spending grew 6.8%/yr vs 6.2%/yr for the tax cap limit, FY2020-2025 (+1).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -1.3% last year; enrollment -25% over 5 yrs; regional district shared with 2 towns; tax bill 9.4% 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 24, 2022 | Passed | $231,958 | Defray School Operating Assessment |
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 →