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Fort Hill Rural Historic DistrictFort Hill Rural Historic District · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Eastham

Eastham spent more per resident in 2022 than 78% of similar towns

Eastham’s town government spent $27.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $5,653 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$27.7M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$5,653
In 2022: $5,653, more than 78% of 50 similar towns
Long-term debt
$83.7M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
143
full-time · 39 part-time · March payroll $1.1M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$4,973
0.68% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Eastham is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$5,653 per resident in 2022: more than 78% of them

Eastham’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,653 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,160, and the middle half spent $3,380–$5,590. Eastham spent more than 78% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,380–$5,590Median $4,160Eastham

Includes sewer and trash ($772,000), 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
50

Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Eastham itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $5,653 per resident a year, or $15.49 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 20% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 62%From the state 23%Fees & charges 10%Sales taxes 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Utility sales 1%Interest, fines & other <1%From the federal government <1%
Schools included

Eastham runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.8 million; interest on debt $1.8 million; payments to other governments $5.6 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $47.5 million.
About “Other”.29% of Eastham’s day-to-day spending ($7.9 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

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,973 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.68% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Orleans$5,486
Eastham$4,973
Wellfleet$4,862
North Eastham$4,789
$4,973
typical bill a year
0.68%
effective rate
$732,200
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Eastham

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

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

Eastham’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on eastham-ma.gov ↗.

Who works for Eastham

One full-time town employee for every 34 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 (4,902).

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

Schools43 + 13 pt
Police21 + 4 pt
Fire22
Administration & buildings18 + 4 pt
Parks & libraries9 + 7 pt
Health & welfare7 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation8
Housing & development5
Sewer & trash3
Water & other utilities0 + 1 pt
Other7 + 4 pt
143
full-time
39
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2022
$13.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$87,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
16
sworn police officers
21
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Eastham 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

Nauset School District

Eastham’s middle and high school district, shared with Brewster, Orleans, Wellfleet. The schools are run by Eastham, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Eastham →
$33,784
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,236
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $33,784 per pupil, $18,046 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 48%Federal 3%

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

Also serving Eastham

Eastham School District · $34,568 per pupil

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Eastham voted in 2024

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

President4,139 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat69.7%2,885 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican28.0%1,157 votes

Others: 2.3% (97 votes).

Most votes in Eastham: Kamala D Harris

Barnstable County: Harris 59.2%, Trump 38.6% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
84%

of Eastham’s 4,928 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate4,091 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat66.0%
John DeatonRepublican33.9%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Eastham: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Barnstable County: Warren 55.3%, Deaton 44.6% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 9th District446,395 votes
Bill KeatingDemocrat56.4%
Dan SullivanRepublican43.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Bill Keating

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Eastham, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Eastham69.7%28.0%2.3%4,139
Barnstable County59.2%38.6%2.2%148,785
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 Eastham

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Eastham.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  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 Eastham compares with the towns next door

Eastham spent $5,653 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $5,050 to $7,961. 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
Orleans$5,050 runs schools$5,486
Wellfleet$7,961 runs schools$4,862
Eastham$5,653$4,973

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 Eastham’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Eastham’s government

How much does Eastham spend per resident?

About $5,653 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 $5,653 was more than 78% of 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Eastham?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,973 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.68% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see eastham-ma.gov.

Who runs Eastham’s government?

See eastham-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Eastham yet.

How did Eastham vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 69.7%, Donald J Trump 28.0% (4,139 votes, official results). Barnstable County: Harris 59.2%, Trump 38.6%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Eastham?

143 full-time and 39 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.4M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Eastham in the state legislature?

State Senate District Cape and Islands (Julian Cyr) and State House District 4th Barnstable (Hadley Luddy). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Eastham’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 →