Essex, MA: town finances
Low debt and solid savings (9.5% of budget); 3 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 72% of MA towns · score 86 of 100
Ability to pay
Top 25% for income and property value
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $78,674 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $375,138 (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 | Essex | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $11,957 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 4.25% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (3 votes, 1 split) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.88% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 0.05% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | -8% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 9.6 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $775k (25 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +19.2% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $157,147 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 3,668 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Manchester Essex Regional (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 B, solid (86/100; better than 72% of MA towns): reserves averaged 9.5% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.88% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (1.25% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 2.2% 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.
Why this chance of an override vote
Chance of an override vote: High (5 pts): almost no unused room under the tax cap (0.05% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2026-05 (+2).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -0.8% last year; enrollment -8% over 5 yrs; regional district shared with 2 towns; tax bill 7.6% 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 11, 2026 | Passed | $185,727 | 185,727 Supplement Mersd Assessment |
| May 11, 2026 | Passed | $268,722 | 268,722 Supplement Essex Operating Budget |
| May 12, 2025 | Passed | $698,196 | Supplementing Manchester Essex Regional School Assessment |
| May 8, 2023 | Passed | $56,186 | Question 2 - Override To Supplement Enatsd |
| May 8, 2023 | Failed | $289,165 | Question 1 - Override To Supplement Mersd |
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 →