Photo: Gary gary gary at en.wikipedia · CC BY 3.0Hillsborough spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar cities
Hillsborough’s town government spent $48.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,179 per resident. Water and other utilities ($11.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Hillsborough is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$4,179 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them
Hillsborough’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,179 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,377, and the middle half spent $885–$1,875. Hillsborough spent more than 96% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Hillsborough itself left out).
About $4,179 per resident a year, or $11.45 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Hillsborough reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
Typical bills top $10,000 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Hillsborough’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Hillsborough’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Hillsborough →
Who’s in charge in Hillsborough
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Hillsborough’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on hillsborough.net ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 128 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (11,527).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
San Mateo Union High School District
Hillsborough’s high school district, shared with Burlingame, Millbrae, Foster City, San Bruno, San Mateo. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $26,598 per pupil, $14,561 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.
Hillsborough City Elementary School District · $30,970 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Hillsborough’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Hillsborough alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are San Mateo County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat73.5%242,834 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican23.2%76,515 votesOthers: 3.3% (10,929 votes).
Most votes in San Mateo County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Hillsborough lies in San Mateo County. Every 2024 race in San Mateo County is on the county’s page.
San Mateo County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Hillsborough.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: hillsborough.net ↗
- 2California AssemblyState representatives
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Hillsborough compares with the towns next door
Hillsborough spent $4,179 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,437 to $2,781. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | $2,437 | $10,000+ |
| Burlingame | $2,781 | $10,000+ |
| Hillsborough | $4,179 | $10,000+ |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Hillsborough’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Hillsborough’s government
How much does Hillsborough spend per resident?
About $4,179 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,179 was more than 96% of 101 California cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
Who runs Hillsborough’s government?
See hillsborough.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Hillsborough yet.
How did Hillsborough vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Hillsborough alone. San Mateo County, where 100% of Hillsborough lies, voted Harris 73.5%, Trump 23.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Hillsborough?
90 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $991,845 (about $11.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Hillsborough in the state legislature?
State Senate District 13 (Josh Becker) and Assembly District 21 (Diane Papan). The Assembly district also covers 13 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Hillsborough’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →