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Town Hall · Stanhope

Stanhope spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

Stanhope’s city government spent $507,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,287 per resident. Water and other utilities ($179,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Iowa.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$507,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,287
In 2022: $1,287, more than 79% of 802 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.1M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
3
full-time · 3 part-time · March payroll $11,262 · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,667
1.50% of home value · IA 1.39%

What stands out about how Stanhope is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,287 per resident, more than 79% of 802 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer44% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares South Hamilton Community School District with 3 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,667 a year: 1.50% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Compared with similar places

$1,287 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

Stanhope’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,287 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. Stanhope spent more than 79% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($122,000), 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; Stanhope itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,287 per resident a year, or $3.53 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 24%.

Where the money comes from
Utility sales 57%Property taxes 11%Fees & charges 10%From the state 10%Sales taxes 5%From other local governments 5%Interest, fines & other 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $354,000; interest on debt $22,000; payments to other governments $71,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,667 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.50% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Iowa$2,897
Stanhope$1,667
$1,667
typical bill a year
1.50%
effective rate
$111,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Stanhope

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

See stanhopeiowa.com/ for Stanhope’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Stanhope yet.stanhopeiowa.com/ ↗
Agendas

Stanhope’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on stanhopeiowa.com/ ↗.

Who works for Stanhope

One full-time city employee for every 131 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (394).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Administration & buildings2 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries1 + 1 pt
3
full-time
3
part-time
$11,262
payroll for March 2022
$135,144
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$37,700
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Estimates.Stanhope didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

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

South Hamilton Community School District

Stanhope’s K–12 school district, shared with Ellsworth, Jewell Junction, Randall. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Stanhope →
$13,225
per pupil · IA $13,713
670
students
$5.5 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,225 per pupil, $8,507 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 57%State 40%Federal 3%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Stanhope’s votes are counted by county

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

President · Hamilton County’s results7,573 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican66.1%5,004 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat32.8%2,482 votes

Others: 1.1% (87 votes).

Most votes in Hamilton County: Donald J Trump

Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%

The county’s page

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

Hamilton 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 Stanhope

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Stanhope.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: stanhopeiowa.com/ ↗
  2. 2
    Iowa HouseState representatives
    Shannon Latham
  3. 3
    Iowa SenateState senator
    Dennis Guth
  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 Stanhope’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitestanhopeiowa.com/ ↗

Questions about Stanhope’s government

How much does Stanhope spend per resident?

About $1,287 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 $1,287 was more than 79% of 802 Iowa cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Stanhope?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,667 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.50% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see stanhopeiowa.com/.

Who runs Stanhope’s government?

See stanhopeiowa.com/ for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Stanhope yet.

How did Stanhope vote in 2024?

Iowa counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Stanhope alone. Hamilton County, where 100% of Stanhope lies, voted Trump 66.1%, Harris 32.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Stanhope?

3 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $11,262 (about $135,144 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Stanhope in the state legislature?

State Senate District 28 (Dennis Guth) and State House District 55 (Shannon Latham). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Stanhope’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 →