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Westport, Connecticut downtownPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Westport

Westport spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar towns

Westport’s town government spent $258.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $9,419 per resident.

Town website
Next public meeting

Board of Finance

7:30 pm · Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$258.3M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$9,419
In 2022: $8,547, more than 93% of 44 similar towns
Long-term debt
$55.7M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2025
1,287
full-time · 229 part-time · March payroll $11.2M
Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year

What stands out about how Westport is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar townsIn 2022: $8,547 per resident, more than 93% of 44 similar towns.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the town budget, not a separate district.Its own police and fire66 sworn officers and 69 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Westport’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Oct28
    Board of SelectmenWednesday · 9:00 am · Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle AvenueBoard of Selectmen MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct26
    Representative Town MeetingMonday · 6:00 pmRepresentative Town Meeting - TESTMeeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Architectural Review BoardTuesday · 7:00 pmOne Time EventMeeting page ↗
  • Oct13
    Representative Town MeetingTuesday · 6:00 pm · Town HallAgenda Creation TrainingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct8
    Representative Town MeetingThursday · 7:30 pmRTM Special MeetingMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $9,419 per resident a year, or $25.81 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 64% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 83%Interest, fines & other 6%Other taxes & licenses 4%Fees & charges 4%From the state 3%From other local governments <1%From the federal government <1%
Schools included

Westport runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Connecticut towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $19.7 million; interest on debt $2.1 million; payments to other governments $1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $283.2 million.
Compared with similar places

$8,547 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them

Westport’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($8,547 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 44 Connecticut towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,758, and the middle half spent $4,148–$6,293. Westport spent more than 93% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,148–$6,293Median $4,758Westport

Includes sewer and trash ($4.7 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 →

The group
44

Connecticut towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Westport itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 6% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Westport reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$243.1 million
2023$251.8 million
2024$258.3 million

Per resident: 2022: $8,547 · 2023: $9,231 · 2024: $9,419.

Town staff
1,287

full-time in March 2025, up from 1,195 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

Typical bills top $10,000 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Westport$10,000+
Fairfield$10,000+
Staples$10,000+
Greens Farms$10,000+
Southport$10,000+
Weston$10,000+
Saugatuck$10,000+
Poplar Plains$10,000+
Coleytown$10,000+
Old Hill$10,000+
$10,000+
typical bill a year
$1,405,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Westport’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 Westport’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Westport →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Westport

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See westportct.gov for Westport’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Westport yet.westportct.gov ↗
Who works for Westport

One full-time town employee for every 21 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (27,427).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Schools977 + 119 pt
Police74 + 23 pt
Fire69 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries26 + 66 pt
Administration & buildings41 + 10 pt
Health & welfare38 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation29
Sewer & trash12
Courts, inspections & corrections0 + 1 pt
Other21 + 4 pt
1,287
full-time
229
part-time
$11.2M
payroll for March 2025
$134.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$98,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
66
sworn police officers
69
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Westport’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Westport School District

Westport’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Westport, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Westport →
$29,927
per pupil · CT $25,892
5,333
students
$46.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $29,927 per pupil, $18,648 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.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 83%State 15%Federal 2%

Connecticut districts overall: 58% local, 35% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Westport voted in 2024

Official results for Westport’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President16,482 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat71.4%11,769 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican27.2%4,476 votes

Others: 1.4% (237 votes).

Most votes in Westport: Kamala D Harris

Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%

Turnout
89%

of Westport’s 18,434 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Connecticut: 66%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate16,265 votes
Christopher S MurphyDemocrat70.5%
Matthew M CoreyRepublican28.7%
Others0.8%

Most votes in Westport: Christopher S Murphy

Connecticut: Murphy 58.6%, Corey 39.7%

President, 2024: Westport, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Westport71.4%27.2%1.4%16,482
Connecticut56.4%41.9%1.7%1,759,010
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

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.

Next door

How Westport compares with the towns next door

Westport spent $8,547 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $5,228 to $5,907. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Fairfield: $5,907 per resident (2022)Norwalk: $5,228 per resident (2022)Staples: unincorporated, no town budgetGreens Farms: unincorporated, no town budgetSouthport: unincorporated, no town budgetWeston: no reported 2022 figuresSaugatuck: unincorporated, no town budgetPoplar Plains: unincorporated, no town budgetColeytown: unincorporated, no town budgetOld Hill: unincorporated, no town budgetFairfieldNorwalkStaplesGreens FarmsSouthportWestonSaugatuckPoplar PlainsColeytownOld HillWestport
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Norwalk$5,228 runs schools$7,817
Fairfield$5,907 runs schools$10,000+
Westonestimate$10,000+
Westport$8,547$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 Westport’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitewestportct.gov ↗

Questions about Westport’s government

How much does Westport spend per resident?

About $9,419 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $8,547 was more than 93% of 44 Connecticut towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Who runs Westport’s government?

See westportct.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Westport yet.

How did Westport vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 71.4%, Donald J Trump 27.2% (16,482 votes, official results). . Connecticut: Harris 56.4%, Trump 41.9%.

How many people work for Westport?

1,287 full-time and 229 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $11.2M (about $134.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Westport?

The next posted meeting is Board of Finance on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:30 pm in Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Westport’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

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 →