Russell, MA: town finances
Strong savings (36% of budget vs 7.3% typical); override vote unlikely, with room under the tax cap.
Budget grade
Better than 94% of MA towns · score 96 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 $56,079 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $147,731 (DLS 2024).
Chance of an override vote
0 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 | Russell | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $5,854 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 5.4% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 4.33% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | No | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 35.6% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.07% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 5.34% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | -4% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 9.6 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $390k (15 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +47.2% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $108,750 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 1,631 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Gateway (regional district shared with 6 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 A, excellent (96/100; better than 94% of MA towns): reserves averaged 36% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.07% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.07% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 0.6% 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: Low (0 pts): no scored signals.
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -7.0% last year; enrollment -4% over 5 yrs; regional district shared with 6 towns; tax bill 5.4% 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.
See this town in the full data table →