Truro, MA: town finances
Strong savings (15% of budget vs 7.3% typical); 5 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 98% of MA towns · score 98 of 100
Ability to pay
Top 10% for income; second homes inflate property value here
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $86,161 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $1,637,935 (DLS 2024).
Chance of an override vote
6 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 | Truro | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $8,064 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 6.8% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 4.90% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (3 votes, 1 failed, 1 split) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 14.7% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.24% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 0.12% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | -34% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 5.5 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $1.5M (36 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +67.2% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $118,984 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 2,486 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Truro. 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 (98/100; better than 98% of MA towns): reserves averaged 15% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.24% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.34% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 1.1% 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 (6 pts): almost no unused room under the tax cap (0.12% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2024-06 (+2); voter-approved debt or capital increase passed since July 2021 (+1).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -1.3% last year; enrollment -34% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2024 | Failed | $113,158 | Human Resource Coordinator |
| May 9, 2023 | Passed | $703,050 | Community Sustainability Childcare Vouchers, Pre-School, Out-Of-School Time Programs |
| May 9, 2023 | Passed | $601,122 | Provision Of Emergency Medical Services |
| May 9, 2023 | Failed | $107,017 | School Resource Officer |
| May 9, 2023 | Failed | $120,150 | Housing Coordinator Position |
| May 10, 2022 | Passed | $355,765 | 4 Full Time Ff/Paramedics |
| Jun 30, 2020 | Failed | $170,000 | Heavy Duty Tractor |
| Jun 30, 2020 | Failed | $351,904 | Addition Of (4) Full-Time Firefighter/Paramedics |
| Jun 30, 2020 | Failed | $170,000 | Acquiring A Heavy Duty Tractor Truck |
| Jun 30, 2020 | Failed | $351,904 | Four Additional Ff/Paramedics |
| May 9, 2017 | Passed | $465,617 | Supplement Operating Budgets |
Source: MA DLS Proposition 2½ override vote file, as of 25 Oct 2026. One ballot can carry several questions.
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