Down payment assistance income limits in Massachusetts
27 down payment assistance programs in Massachusetts publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both.
Every figure below is the limit the administering agency publishes. Limits are revised as area incomes and local prices move, so confirm current figures with the agency before relying on them.
Area median income by county
HUD's published four-person area median income for each Massachusetts county. A program that sets its limit at a percentage of area median income applies that percentage to the figure for the county where the home is, adjusted for household size.
| County | Published | 4-person median |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | 2026 | $123,600 |
| Berkshire | 2026 | $109,400 |
| Bristol | 2026 | $94,300 |
| Dukes | 2026 | $163,100 |
| Essex | 2026 | $164,600 |
| Franklin | 2026 | $109,900 |
| Hampden | 2026 | $96,700 |
| Hampshire | 2026 | $124,400 |
| Middlesex | 2026 | $164,600 |
| Nantucket | 2026 | $163,200 |
| Norfolk | 2026 | $127,800 |
| Plymouth | 2026 | $127,800 |
| Suffolk | 2026 | $164,600 |
| Worcester | 2026 | $113,900 |
Published limits by program
| Program | Income limit | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| Belchertown Down Payment AssistanceBelchertown · Hampshire | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI Springfield HMFA (covers Hampshire County): ~$61,350 1-person, $70,100 2-person, $78,850 3-person, $87,600 4-person, up to ~$115,650 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Buyer's Assistance Program (BAP)Holyoke · Hampden | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for Springfield MSA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $61,350 to 8-person $115,650. | $606,000 |
| Down Payment & Closing Cost ProgramProvincetown · Barnstable | 100% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below CPA 100% AMI Barnstable Town MSA: ~$87,010 1-person to ~$144,188 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance ProgramWellfleet · Barnstable | 100% of area median incomeIncome limits set by Town for moderate-income/CPA-eligible households: approx $62,510 1-person to $103,588 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Down Payment AssistanceGreat Barrington · Berkshire | 100% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 100% AMI Pittsfield HMFA (Berkshire County): ~$71,050 1-person; $81,200 2-person; $91,350 3-person; $101,500 4-person; up to ~$133,980 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Down Payment Assistance ProgramNorth Andover · Essex | 100% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 100% HUD AMI for Boston-Cambridge-Newton HMFA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $93,800 to 8-person $155,450. | — |
| DPA 2% 15 Year AmortizedStatewide · Statewide | 100% of area median incomeMassHousing 2026 income limits: up to 100% AMI in non-Gateway communities (varies by county/household; e.g., $76,960 1-person Boston-Cambridge balance-of-state to $130,800 4+ person Boston/Gateway 100% tier). Borrowers in Boston + 26 designated Gateway Cities (Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, Worcester) qualify up to 135% AMI. Verify by county and household size on MassHousing income-limits page. | — |
| DPA 3% 15 Year AmortizedStatewide · Statewide | 135% of area median incomeMassHousing 2026 higher-income tier: $129,870 (lower bound) to $220,725 (upper bound at 135% AMI 4+ person Boston/Gateway high-cost). Verify by household size and county on MassHousing income-limits page. Borrowers in Boston + 26 Gateway Cities (Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, Worcester) qualify up to 135% AMI. | — |
| Enhanced First-Time Homebuyer ProgramNew Bedford · Bristol | 120% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 120% AMI for New Bedford HMFA: ~$92,050 1-person, $105,200 2-person, $118,350 3-person, $131,500 4-person, up to ~$173,500 8-person (FY26). | — |
| First Generation ProgramStatewide · Statewide | 100% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 100% AMI for the county of purchase (HUD AMI tables). Published ceiling approximately $218,350 for 4+ person household in highest-cost MA MSA. Minimum household income of $45,000/year required (demonstrates capacity to save and complete the STASH matched-savings program). Income includes all household members 18+. | — |
| First Time Buyer / Down Payment Assistance ProgramTaunton · Bristol | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for the Providence-Warwick MA-RI HMFA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $66,250 to 8-person $124,900. | $775,000 |
| First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance ProgramGloucester · Essex | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH HMFA: 1-person $82,950 to 8-person $156,400 (FY2025 limits, current as of April 2026). | — |
| First Time Home Buyers Program (FTHB)Lawrence · Essex | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for the Lawrence MA-NH HMFA: 1-person $55,950 to 8-person $86,300 (rounded; FY2025 HUD limits, current as of April 2026). | $821,000 |
| First Time Home-Buyers ProgramMultiple | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI for the Lowell HMFA: ~$68,500 1-person, $78,300 2-person, $88,100 3-person, $97,850 4-person, up to ~$129,100 8-person (FY26 HUD limits). | — |
| First Time Homeowner Downpayment Assistance ProgramHaverhill · Essex | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI Lawrence/Lowell HMFA: approx. $68,500 1-person to $129,100 8-person (FY26). | $939,000 |
| First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance ProgramEverett · Middlesex | 150% of area median incomeUp to 150% of HUD AMI for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $62,340 to 8-person $178,250 across 80%-150% AMI bands. | — |
| First-Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Loan ProgramSalem · Essex | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for Boston-Cambridge-Newton HMFA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $91,200 to 8-person $151,100. | $1.0M |
| First-Time Homebuyer ProgramMultiple | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA (2025): 1-person $92,650 to 8-person $174,650 (per program page income table). | $858,000 |
| Homebuyer ProgramFall River · Bristol | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for Providence-Warwick MA-RI HMFA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $23,600 (30% AMI tier) to 8-person $118,700 (80% AMI). | $775,000 |
| MassHousing Down Payment Assistance | 100% of area median income | $653,700 |
| Neighborhoods First - First-Time Homebuyer Assistance ProgramNew Bedford · Bristol | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI New Bedford HMFA: ~$61,350 1-person, $70,100 2-person, $78,850 3-person, $87,600 4-person, up to ~$115,650 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Next Door Home Ownership ProgramBoston · Suffolk | See programIncome limits not publicly published; tied to first-mortgage product (typically 80%-135% AMI for Boston HMFA per ONE/ONE+ and Boston Home Center thresholds). | — |
| ONE Mortgage Program | 80% of area median income | $653,700 |
| ONE+Boston Home Buyer ProgramBoston · Suffolk | 135% of area median incomeIncome at or below 135% of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA AMI per HUD tables, by household size. Approximate 2026 tiers: $114,250 (1-person, lower-bound published) to $215,450 (4+ person 135% AMI ceiling). The City's DPA grant is calibrated by AMI band: <=100% AMI = 3% of purchase price up to $50,000; 101-135% AMI = 2% of purchase price up to $35,000. | $585,000 |
| Realizing the Dream Homeownership ProgramLynn · Essex | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% HUD AMI for Boston-Cambridge-Newton HMFA (FY2025): approx. 1-person $56,800 to 8-person $107,100. | $684,000 |
| West Springfield Downpayment AssistanceWest Springfield · Hampden | 80% of area median incomeHousehold income at or below 80% AMI Springfield HMFA per HUD West Springfield income limits: ~$55,800 1-person; $63,800 2-person; $71,800 3-person; $79,750 4-person; up to ~$105,250 8-person (FY26). | — |
| Workforce Advantage 4.0 Deferred (WFA 4.0)Statewide · Statewide | 135% of area median incomeMassHousing WFA 4.0 2026 income limits: up to 100% AMI in non-Gateway communities; up to 135% AMI for borrowers in the City of Boston and the 26 designated Gateway Cities (Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, Worcester). Published ceiling approximately $131,040 (3+ person Boston/Gateway 135% AMI tier per WFA 4.0 income tables). Verify by county and household size. | — |
Questions, answered
What are the income limits for down payment assistance in Massachusetts?
27 down payment assistance programs in Massachusetts publish an income limit, a purchase price cap, or both. 26 express the limit as a percentage of the area median income for the county where the home is, and 24 publish a flat dollar figure instead.
Why does the same program have different income limits in different counties?
Because most limits are set as a percentage of area median income, which HUD publishes per county and revises annually. A program with one published percentage therefore admits a different dollar figure in each county, and the figure is further adjusted for household size.
Is a published limit the same as being approved?
No. An income limit is one eligibility rule among several — credit requirements, purchase price caps, occupancy rules and homebuyer education all apply separately, and the first-mortgage lender underwrites on its own terms. Always confirm current figures with the administering agency.
Is Hey Prescott a lender?
No. Hey Prescott is an educational directory of down payment assistance programs. We list programs and link to official sources; we do not make loans or give individualized lending advice.
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