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Brayton, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Brayton

Brayton spent more per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities

Brayton’s city government spent $155,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,396 per resident. Water and other utilities ($21,000) are counted separately.

Day-to-day spending, 2022
$155,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,396
In 2022: $1,396, more than 84% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$604,000
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
0
full-time · 9 part-time · March payroll $754
Typical tax bill
$673
0.94% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Brayton is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,396 per resident, more than 84% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer20% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District with 3 other towns.Lower tax billsThe typical bill is $673 a year: 0.94% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,396 per resident in 2022: more than 84% of them

Brayton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,396 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $900, and the middle half spent $632–$1,186. Brayton spent more than 84% of them.

Middle half of the group, $632–$1,186Median $900Brayton

Includes sewer and trash ($14,000), 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
802

Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Brayton itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,396 per resident a year, or $3.82 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 18%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 26%Fees & charges 25%Property taxes 15%Interest, fines & other 11%From other local governments 8%From the state 8%Sales taxes 7%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $14,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $190,000.
About “Other”.43% of Brayton’s day-to-day spending ($66,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Brayton reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $673 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.94% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Brayton$673
$673
typical bill a year
0.94%
effective rate
$71,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Brayton’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Brayton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Brayton →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Brayton

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

Check Brayton’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Brayton yet.
The school district

Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District

Brayton’s K–12 school district, shared with Elk Horn, Exira, Kimballton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Brayton →
$16,484
per pupil · IA $13,713
374
students
$4.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,484 per pupil, $9,968 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 50%State 46%Federal 5%

Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Brayton’s votes are counted by county

Iowa reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brayton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Audubon County’s results.

President · Audubon County’s results3,239 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican68.4%2,214 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat29.9%970 votes

Others: 1.7% (55 votes).

Most votes in Audubon County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

100% of Brayton lies in Audubon County. Every 2024 race in Audubon County is on the county’s page.

Audubon County’s 2024 results →
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.

Who represents Brayton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Brayton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Craig Williams
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Jason Schultz
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Kim Reynolds
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Randy Feenstra
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
    Chuck GrassleyJoni Ernst

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Brayton’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Brayton’s government

How much does Brayton spend per resident?

About $1,396 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 $1,396 was more than 84% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Brayton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $673 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.94% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.

Who runs Brayton’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Brayton yet.

How did Brayton vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Brayton alone. Audubon County, where 100% of Brayton lies, voted Trump 68.4%, Harris 29.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Brayton?

0 full-time and 9 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $754 (about $9,048 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Brayton in the state legislature?

State Senate District 6 (Jason Schultz) and State House District 11 (Craig Williams). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Brayton’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 →