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Westhampton, MA: town finances

Fair finances; below-typical savings (5.9% of budget vs 7.3% typical); 2 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.

Budget grade

C · Fair

Better than 42% of MA towns · score 77 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 $50,565 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $178,816 (DLS 2024).

Chance of an override vote

High

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

MeasureWesthamptonMedian MA town
Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family)$7,149$6,755
Tax bill as a share of median household income7.1%6.4%
Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-263.05%3.95%
Override vote dates, last 5 yearsYes (2 votes, 2 failed)35% of towns had one
Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average5.9%7.3%
Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight)0.69%0.70%
Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget0.0%1.3%
Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy)0.03%0.34%
School enrollment, 5-year change-4%-2%
Students per teacher, 2025-268.211.4
Median single-family sale price, 2024$398k (10 sales)$614k
Single-family price change, 2019-24+50.0%+52.8%
Median household income (Census, 2020-24)$100,000$113,750
Population (DLS)1,62010,585

Main school district: Westhampton. 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 5.9% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.69% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (1.38% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 0% of budget (median 1.3%). 100% of debt payments are voter-approved and paid outside the cap. 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 (0.03% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2026-06 (+2); school spending grew 7.6%/yr vs 3.9%/yr for the tax cap limit, FY2020-2025 (+1).

Context, not scored

Teacher jobs -6.6% last year; enrollment -4% over 5 yrs; tax bill 7.1% 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 dateResultAmountPurpose (as listed by DLS)
Jun 6, 2026Failed$125,000Assess $125,000 Additional Taxes Fy27
Apr 11, 2026Failed$500,000Assess $500,000 Additional Taxes Fy27

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 →

Budget grades and override chances are our own estimates from public data, as of 25 Oct 2026. Check figures with the town and the original source before relying on them. Disclaimer. Spot an error? hello@beforeyoubuyma.com

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