Chilmark, MA: town finances
Low debt and solid savings (7.9% of budget); 6 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 63% of MA towns · score 83 of 100
Ability to pay
Top 5% for income; second homes inflate property value here
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $95,877 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $4,777,035 (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 | Chilmark | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $8,024 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 4.60% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (3 votes) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 7.9% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.20% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 1.68% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | +2% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 7.5 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $2.2M (9 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +92.0% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $168,750 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 1,235 | 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 63% of MA towns): reserves were 7.9% of budget on average in the 2 certified years of FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.20% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.32% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 1.7% of budget (median 1.3%). Voter-approved amounts exceed its general-fund debt payments (often regional school debt), so the state median share is used. 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): little room under the tax cap (1.68% of max levy, +2); override votes since July 2016, latest 2026-04 (+2); voter-approved debt or capital increase passed since July 2021 (+1).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -1.7% last year; enrollment +2% over 5 yrs; regional district shared with 3 towns; 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2026 | Passed | $24,044 | Operating The Chilmark Library Additional Hours |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Passed | $48,283 | Operating The Mvrhs |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Passed | $43,427 | Funding Additional Fulltime Emt |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Passed | $252,210 | Operating The Uirsd |
| Apr 30, 2025 | Passed | $451,381 | Assess Additional $451,381 In Taxes For Up Isl Regional Schools |
| Apr 30, 2025 | Passed | $90,000 | Assess Additional $90,000 In Taxes For Mv Regional High School |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Passed | $297,988 | Operating Expenses Of Up Island Reg School |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $52,202 | Uirsd Chilmark Exterior Door Replace |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $41,151 | New Roof For Uirsd |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $70,300 | Mvrhsd Operating Budget |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $36,200 | Up Island Rsd Operating Budget |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $5,779 | Up Island Elevator |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $9,547 | New Walk In Freezer For Up Island Rsd |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $35,590 | Mvrhs Technology Infrastructure |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $14,178 | Mvrhs Purchase Electric School Buses |
| May 26, 2021 | Passed | $153,376 | Up Island Window Replacement |
| Apr 24, 2019 | Passed | $27,243 | Funding Of Emergency Communication Center Radio System Upgrade |
| Apr 24, 2019 | Passed | $49,335 | Funding Of Feasibility Study &Schematic Design At Mv High School |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $9,184 | Funding Core Program Under The Coa |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $22,333 | Dukes County Regional Emergency Communication Center |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $5,453 | Funding Healthy Aging Task Force First Stop |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $6,264 | Funding Dukes County Social Services |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $35,000 | Upisland Rsd Operating Budget |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $5,740 | Dukes County Substance Use Disorder Prevention Programs |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $79,000 | Tri Town Ambulance Operating Budget |
| Apr 25, 2018 | Passed | $8,163 | Funding Healthy Aging Task Force Planning And Comm Building |
Source: MA DLS Proposition 2½ override vote file, as of 25 Oct 2026. One ballot can carry several questions.
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