Photo: Ian Howard · CC BY 2.5Boston spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities
Boston’s city government spent $4.8 billion on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,352 per resident. It also runs a hospital ($381.6 million), counted separately. Census Bureau figures.
What stands out about how Boston is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $7,352 per resident a year, or $20.14 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 46% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Boston runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities that run their own schools.
$6,049 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them
Boston’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,049 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 55 Massachusetts cities that run their own schools: the median was $4,212, and the middle half spent $3,764–$4,730. Boston spent more than 98% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($186.6 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 →
Massachusetts cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Boston itself left out).
Day-to-day spending is up 14% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Boston reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $6,049 · 2023: $6,807 · 2024: $7,352. Per resident it went from $6,049 to $7,352 (up 22%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 691,531 to 650,706.
full-time in March 2025 (hospital, health & welfare left out), up from 18,538 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
Who’s in charge in Boston
From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.
Council members and agencies: boston.gov ↗
Boston’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on boston.gov ↗.
The typical homeowner pays $4,456 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.61% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Boston’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 Boston’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Boston →
One full-time city employee for every 32 residents, not counting hospital, health & welfare staff
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 (650,706).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Boston School District
Boston’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Boston, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $39,929 per pupil, $22,300 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.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Boston voted in 2024
Official results for Boston’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat76.7%201,628 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican19.7%51,808 votesOthers: 3.6% (9,339 votes).
Most votes in Boston: Kamala D Harris
Suffolk County: Harris 74.3%, Trump 22.2% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Boston’s 486,894 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Boston: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Suffolk County: Warren 75.4%, Deaton 24.2% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Boston, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →
President, 2024: Boston, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 76.7% | 19.7% | 3.6% | 262,775 |
| Suffolk County | 74.3% | 22.2% | 3.5% | 299,193 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
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
Boston sends 16 representatives to the Massachusetts House alone.
- 1Your cityMayorMichelle Wuas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
- 2Massachusetts HouseBoston is split between 16 districts
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Boston compares with the towns next door
No neighbor is close in size, so the comparison above uses Massachusetts cities that run their own schools. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Winthrop Town | $3,443 runs schools | $6,355 |
| Watertown | $3,974 runs schools | $6,799 |
| Revere | $4,220 runs schools | $5,605 |
| Milton | $4,577 runs schools | $9,677 |
| Cambridge | $4,730 runs schools | $4,802 |
| Quincy | $4,834 runs schools | $6,381 |
| Dedham | $5,180 runs schools | $7,918 |
| Chelsea | $5,407 runs schools | $3,321 |
| Brookline | $5,707 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Newton | $6,260 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Boston | $6,049 | $4,456 |
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 Boston’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Boston’s government
How much does Boston spend per resident?
About $7,352 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. Boston also runs a hospital ($381.6 million), counted separately. In 2022, the last full count, its $6,049 was more than 98% of 55 Massachusetts cities that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Boston?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,456 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.61% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see boston.gov.
Who is the mayor of Boston?
Michelle Wu, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on boston.gov.
How did Boston vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 76.7%, Donald J Trump 19.7% (262,775 votes, official results). Suffolk County: Harris 74.3%, Trump 22.2%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Boston?
20,199 full-time and 2,294 part-time employees in March 2025 (plus 1,413 full-time hospital, health & welfare staff), with a March payroll of $197.2M (about $2.4B a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Boston in the state legislature?
Boston is split among 16 State House districts and 6 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Boston’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 →