Worthington, MA: town finances
Fair finances; below-typical savings (5.4% of budget vs 7.3% typical); 2 override votes since 2016; another override vote likely.
Budget grade
Better than 44% of MA towns · score 77 of 100
± Borderline: the score is within 2 points of the B/C cutoff, so a small change in the data could move the budget grade.
Ability to pay
Above the state median for income and property value
Shown separately; not part of the budget grade. Income per resident $55,274 (Census ACS 2020-24); property value (EQV) per resident $232,005 (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 | Worthington | Median MA town |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tax bill, FY2026 (average single-family) | $5,327 | $6,755 |
| Tax bill as a share of median household income | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Tax bill growth per year, FY2016-26 | 3.49% | 3.95% |
| Override vote dates, last 5 years | Yes (2 votes, 2 failed) | 35% of towns had one |
| Savings (reserves), % of budget, FY2024-26 average | 5.4% | 7.3% |
| Debt, % of property value, FY2023-25 (voter-approved debt at half weight) | 0.01% | 0.70% |
| Debt payments inside the tax cap, % of budget | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Unused room under the tax cap, FY2026 (% of max levy) | 0.08% | 0.34% |
| School enrollment, 5-year change | +16% | -2% |
| Students per teacher, 2025-26 | 10.0 | 11.4 |
| Median single-family sale price, 2024 | $350k (10 sales) | $614k |
| Single-family price change, 2019-24 | +58.4% | +52.8% |
| Median household income (Census, 2020-24) | $91,667 | $113,750 |
| Population (DLS) | 1,183 | 10,585 |
Main school district: Worthington. 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, near the B/C line; better than 44% of MA towns): reserves averaged 5.4% of budget over FY2024-26 (state median 7.3%); debt 0.01% of property value with voter-approved debt at half weight (0.02% before; median 0.70%); debt payments inside the tax cap 0.2% 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. 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 (0.08% of max levy, +3); override votes since July 2016, latest 2025-11 (+2); school spending grew 7.5%/yr vs 4.4%/yr for the tax cap limit, FY2020-2025 (+1).
Context, not scored
Teacher jobs -2.7% last year; enrollment +16% over 5 yrs; tax bill 5.8% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2025 | Failed | $290,000 | Gen'L Govt & School |
| Nov 8, 2025 | Failed | $195,000 | Gen'L Govt & School |
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 →