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Charlemont Town HallPhoto: ToddC4176 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Charlemont

Charlemont spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar towns

Charlemont’s town government spent $3.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,749 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$3.4M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,749
In 2022: $2,749, more than 82% of 34 similar towns
Long-term debt
$50,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
12
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $71,050
Typical tax bill
$4,351
1.42% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Charlemont is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,749 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Charlemont’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,749 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,057, and the middle half spent $1,652–$2,633. Charlemont spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,652–$2,633Median $2,057Charlemont

Includes sewer and trash ($61,000), 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
34

Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Charlemont itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,749 per resident a year, or $7.53 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 15%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 54%From the state 29%From the federal government 11%Interest, fines & other 3%Fees & charges 2%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $283,000; interest on debt $19,000; payments to other governments $2.1 million. With these, the whole budget was $5.8 million.
About “Other”.62% of Charlemont’s day-to-day spending ($2.1 million) 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,351 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.42% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Buckland$4,761
Shelburne$4,595
Heath$4,438
Charlemont$4,351
Colrain$4,317
Shelburne Falls$4,124
Hawley$4,097
Florida$1,894
Rowe$1,458
$4,351
typical bill a year
1.42%
effective rate
$305,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Charlemont

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

See charlemont-ma.us for Charlemont’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Charlemont yet.charlemont-ma.us ↗
Agendas

Charlemont’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on charlemont-ma.us ↗.

Who works for Charlemont

One full-time town employee for every 103 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 (1,231).

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

Fire3 + 13 pt
Roads & transportation4 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings4 + 1 pt
Police1 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 1 pt
12
full-time
25
part-time
$71,050
payroll for March 2022
$852,600
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$46,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
1
sworn police officers
2
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Charlemont had 9.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 19 of the 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.0: Charlemont had more than 79% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

Hawlemont School District

Charlemont’s elementary school district, shared with Hawley. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Charlemont →
$52,500
per pupil · MA $26,530
56
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $52,500 per pupil, $28,929 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 56%State 34%Federal 10%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Charlemont voted in 2024

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

President729 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat65.7%479 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican28.9%211 votes

Others: 5.3% (39 votes).

Most votes in Charlemont: Kamala D Harris

Franklin County: Harris 67.0%, Trump 29.4% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
73%

of Charlemont’s 995 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate722 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat62.6%
John DeatonRepublican37.4%

Most votes in Charlemont: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Franklin County: Warren 66.9%, Deaton 32.9% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 1st District358,058 votes
Richard E NealDemocrat62.4%
Nadia Donya Milleron37.3%
Others0.3%

Most votes in the district: Richard E Neal

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Charlemont, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Charlemont65.7%28.9%5.3%729
Franklin County67.0%29.4%3.6%42,248
Massachusetts61.2%36.0%2.8%3,473,668
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 Charlemont

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Charlemont.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
    District 1st Franklin
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

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

Next door

How Charlemont compares with the towns next door

Charlemont spent $2,749 per resident in 2022; the 7 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,657 to $13,260. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Buckland$1,657$4,761
Shelburne$1,864$4,595
Colrain$2,035$4,317
Hawley$2,752$4,097
Heath$3,401$4,438
Florida$5,626 runs schools$1,894
Rowe$13,260 runs schools$1,458
Charlemont$2,749$4,351

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 Charlemont’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Charlemont’s government

How much does Charlemont spend per resident?

About $2,749 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 $2,749 was more than 82% of 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Charlemont?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,351 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.42% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see charlemont-ma.us.

Who runs Charlemont’s government?

See charlemont-ma.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Charlemont yet.

How did Charlemont vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 65.7%, Donald J Trump 28.9% (729 votes, official results). Franklin County: Harris 67.0%, Trump 29.4%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Charlemont?

12 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $71,050 (about $852,600 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Charlemont in the state legislature?

State Senate District Berkshire-Hampden-Franklin-Hampshire (Paul Mark) and State House District 1st Franklin. The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Charlemont’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 →