Back to Massachusetts Overview
FIPS: 25025•Rank #12 National•Rank #1 in MA
Suffolk County, MA
Forward-Looking Municipal Debt, Assessment Lag & Carrying Cost Audit
Elevated Tax Drift Risk
96% Conf.
Tax Drift Index
67.4/ 100
Elevated Drift Risk
Suffolk County Executive Risk Briefing
MSRB EMMA Disclosures & US Census BureauAugust 2026
Suffolk County carries a Elevated Tax Drift Score (67.4/100) based on $9,200 in overlapping municipal debt per capita and a +23.5% CAD assessment lag spread. Projected 3-year millage escalation of +0.13% (+13 bps) indicates an estimated +$2,179/yr escrow adjustment on median-priced properties.
Median Home: $720,000Median Income: $86,000Effective Tax: 1.0%
Municipal Debt Per Capita
$9,200
10.7% of Median Income
CAD Valuation Lag
+23.5%
Assessed Value trailing Market HPI
3-Yr Millage Escalation
+13 bps
Effective Rate: 1.0% → 1.1%
Projected Annual Escrow Shock
+$2,179/yr
Estimated on median assessed home
Interactive Property Tax & Escrow Shock Simulator
Model forward-looking ad valorem tax obligations and monthly escrow adjustments for a specific parcel in Suffolk County, MA.
$720,000
$0
Current Annual Tax
$7,056
@ 0.98% eff. rate
Year 3 Projected Tax
$9,235
@ 1.11% eff. rate
Net Escrow Increase
+$2,179/yr
+$182/mo mortgage escrow
Projected Shock Attribution Breakdown+13 bps rate shift
1. Muni Bond Debt Service
+6 bps
I&S bond amortization
2. Operating Deficit Drift
+7 bps
M&O budget expansion
3. CAD Valuation Catch-up
+$1,078/yr
+$109,980 assessed base
Overlapping Taxing Jurisdictions & Debt Obligations
Breakdown of autonomous debt issuers assessing ad valorem property taxes on parcels within Suffolk County.
| Entity Name | Entity Type | Outstanding Bond Debt | Debt / Student or Cap | Adopted Millage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Public Schools | ISD | $1.2B | $24,000 | 0.420% |
5-Year Historical Drift Score & Effective Rate Trajectory
2022
59
0.9% eff.
2023
62
0.9% eff.
2024
64
1.0% eff.
2025
66
1.0% eff.
2026
67.4
1.0% eff.
Statutory Constraint & Legislative Policy
City of Boston commercial classification shifts tax levy burden onto high-value office and lab towers.
Data Provenance & Audit Citations