Historic Tax Rates
Each year the City must have its tax rate approved by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue prior to issuing tax bills. The Tax Rates are set by the City Council based on all proposed spending and all sources of estimated revenue.
| Fiscal Year | RESIDENTIAL RATE | COMMERCIAL RATE |
| 1884 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 1885 | $16.50 | $16.50 |
| 1886 | $15.50 | $15.50 |
| 1887 | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| 1888 | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| 1889 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 1890 | $17.00 | $17.00 |
| 1891 | $18.00 | $18.00 |
| 1892 | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| 1893 | $17.30 | $17.30 |
| 1894 | $16.80 | $16.80 |
| 1895 | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| 1896 | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| 1897 | $17.30 | $17.30 |
| 1898 | $16.80 | $16.80 |
| 1899 | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| 1900 | $18.00 | $18.00 |
| 1901 | $18.00 | $18.00 |
| 1902 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 1903 | $17.80 | $17.80 |
| 1904 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 1905 | $17.80 | $17.80 |
| 1906 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| 1907 | $17.80 | $17.80 |
| 1908 | $18.60 | $18.60 |
| 1909 | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| 1910 | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| 1911 | $18.50 | $18.50 |
| 1912 | $18.00 | $18.00 |
| 1913 | $20.50 | $20.50 |
| 1914 | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| 1915 | $21.00 | $21.00 |
| 1916 | $22.90 | $22.90 |
| 1917 | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| 1918 | $26.50 | $26.50 |
| 1919 | $28.20 | $28.20 |
| 1920 | $31.60 | $31.60 |
| 1921 | $33.10 | $33.10 |
| 1922 | $34.00 | $34.00 |
| 1923 | $33.80 | $33.80 |
| 1924 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1925 | $32.50 | $32.50 |
| 1926 | $32.50 | $32.50 |
| 1927 | $32.00 | $32.00 |
| 1928 | $31.30 | $31.30 |
| 1929 | $30.30 | $30.30 |
| 1930 | $30.30 | $30.30 |
| 1931 | $30.30 | $30.30 |
| 1932 | $32.40 | $32.40 |
| 1933 | $32.00 | $32.00 |
| 1934 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1935 | $34.50 | $34.50 |
| 1936 | $34.50 | $34.50 |
| 1937 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1938 | $34.00 | $34.00 |
| 1939 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1940 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1941 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1942 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1943 | $33.50 | $33.50 |
| 1944 | $35.50 | $35.50 |
| 1945 | $35.50 | $35.50 |
| 1946 | $37.50 | $37.50 |
| 1947 | $43.50 | $43.50 |
| 1948 | $47.50 | $47.50 |
| 1949 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| 1950 | $56.00 | $56.00 |
| 1951 | $54.50 | $54.50 |
| 1952 | $52.00 | $52.00 |
| 1953 | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| 1954 | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| 1955 | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| 1956 | $52.00 | $52.00 |
| 1957 | $52.00 | $52.00 |
| 1958 | $59.00 | $59.00 |
| 1959 | $56.50 | $56.50 |
| 1960 | $57.30 | $57.30 |
| 1961 | $59.20 | $59.20 |
| 1962 | $63.00 | $63.00 |
| 1963 | $66.40 | $66.40 |
| 1964 | $71.40 | $71.40 |
| 1965 | $76.40 | $76.40 |
| 1966 | $79.60 | $79.60 |
| 1967 | $84.00 | $84.00 |
| 1968 | $93.00 | $93.00 |
| 1969 | $112.40 | $112.40 |
| 1970 | $136.50 | $136.50 |
| 1971 | $140.50 | $140.50 |
| 1972 | $145.30 | $145.30 |
| 1973 | $152.00 | $152.00 |
| 1974 | $157.00 | $157.00 |
| 1975 | $157.00 | $157.00 |
| 1976 | $168.90 | $168.90 |
| 1977 | $220.00 | $220.00 |
| 1978 | $193.00 | $193.00 |
| 1979 | $204.00 | $204.00 |
| 1980 | $202.00 | $202.00 |
| 1981 | $205.00 | $205.00 |
| 1982 | $173.00 | $29.99 |
| 1983 | $15.31 | $25.35 |
| 1984 | $16.82 | $25.15 |
| 1985 | $16.82 | $26.27 |
| 1986 | $12.53 | $26.17 |
| 1987 | $12.90 | $26.80 |
| 1988 | $13.48 | $27.59 |
| 1989 | $8.43 | $21.74 |
| 1990 | $8.92 | $22.52 |
| 1991 | $9.21 | $22.67 |
| 1992 | $10.31 | $24.82 |
| 1993 | $11.75 | $28.31 |
| 1994 | $12.65 | $31.12 |
| 1995 | $13.85 | $33.46 |
| 1996 | $14.65 | $34.23 |
| 1997 | $15.23 | $35.03 |
| 1998 | $15.22 | $34.67 |
| 1999 | $15.17 | $33.96 |
| 2000 | $14.23 | $31.65 |
| 2001 | $13.42 | $29.63 |
| 2002 | $13.53 | $28.62 |
| 2003 | $12.87 | $26.05 |
| 2004 | $11.71 | $22.59 |
| 2005 | $11.38 | $21.83 |
| 2006 | $11.21 | $21.33 |
| 2007 | $10.77 | $20.48 |
| 2008 | $11.67 | $22.11 |
| 2009 | $12.92 | $24.54 |
| 2010 | $14.01 | $26.93 |
| 2011 | $15.05 | $29.08 |
| 2012 | $15.63 | $29.81 |
| 2013 | $16.38 | $31.46 |
| 2014 | $16.73 | $32.05 |
| 2015 | $16.41 | $30.99 |
| 2016 | $15.67 | $29.55 |
| 2017 | $15.86 | $29.99 |
| 2018 | $15.38 | $29.97 |
| 2019 | $15.10 | $29.55 |
| 2020 | $14.45 | $28.42 |
| 2021 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
| 2022 | $13.25 | $26.31 |
| 2023 | $12.51 | $25.25 |
| 2024 | $11.62 | $23.69 |