Many Belmont residents are unhappy about their latest property tax bill. According to the Mass Department of Revenue, Belmont’s average single-family tax bill increased from $15,568 for FY2022 to $18,775 for FY2025, a total increase of 20.6%, or an average annual increase of about 6.5%. Belmont had the 10th-highest average single-family tax bill in the state in FY2022. In FY2025, Belmont had moved up the ranks to eighth highest.
Belmont Statistics from DOR Municipal Trends Table
| Fiscal Year | Average tax bill (single family) | Income per capita | Average Tax bill as % of income | State Rank |
| 2022 | $15,568 | $98,942 | 15.7 % | 10 |
| 2025 | $18,775 | $140,907 | 13.4% | 8 |
Further, DOR data shows that in 2025, among the 10 Massachusetts towns with the highest average single-family tax bill, Belmont has the second-highest average single-family tax bill as a percentage of average per capita income (13.3%). Among the 10 towns, only Brookline has a higher percentage of single-family income paid for property taxes. This means that the average Belmont single-family homeowner is paying 13% of their annual income in property taxes. When housing costs and property tax levels are considered in conjunction with Belmont’s average per capita incomes, it becomes clear that Belmont is asking far more of its residential taxpayers than its comparable peers.
There is no magic single solution here. Bringing our outsized tax burden under control continues to require the combined efforts of the Select Board, the School Committee and the Warrant Committee, along with others. It is important to acknowledge that some real progress has been made. Hiring a Finance Director and changing the Treasurer role from an elected to an appointed position are good examples of this progress. However, this year’s tax bills suggest that much more needs to be done.
Dawn MacKerron, Becket Road
Editor’s note: Based upon 2025 DOR data, when considering all 351 Massachusetts communities, Belmont ranks 178th based on average single-family tax bill as a percentage of average per capita income. The 2 out of 10 ranking in the letter is correct when looking at the 10 Massachusetts towns with the highest average single-family tax bill.