Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domainFall River spent less per resident in 2022 than 72% of similar cities
Fall River’s city government spent $555.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,930 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Fall River is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,947 per resident in 2022: less than 72% of them
Fall River’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,947 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Massachusetts cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,282, and the middle half spent $3,932–$4,965. Fall River spent less than 72% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($20.9 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 of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fall River itself left out).
About $5,930 per resident a year, or $16.25 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 56% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Fall River runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 57% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Fall River 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: $3,947 · 2023: $4,203 · 2024: $5,930. Per resident it went from $3,947 to $5,930 (up 50%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 89,792 to 93,682.
full-time in March 2025, up from 2,568 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,953 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.00% 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 Fall River’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 Fall River’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Fall River →
Who’s in charge in Fall River
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Fall River’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on fallriverma.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 31 residents
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 (93,682).
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.
Fall River School District
Fall River’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Fall River, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $25,560 per pupil, $13,394 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 Fall River voted in 2024
Official results for Fall River’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican49.9%15,230 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat48.2%14,726 votesOthers: 1.9% (593 votes).
Most votes in Fall River: Donald J Trump
Bristol County: Harris 49.6%, Trump 48.3% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Fall River’s 65,125 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Fall River: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Bristol County: Deaton 50.3%, Warren 49.6% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Jake Auchincloss
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Fall River, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River | 49.9% | 48.2% | 1.9% | 30,549 |
| Bristol County | 48.3% | 49.6% | 2.2% | 278,017 |
| Massachusetts | 36.0% | 61.2% | 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
Every level of government that speaks for Fall River.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: fallriverma.org ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseFall River is split between 3 districts
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Fall River compares with the towns next door
Fall River spent $3,947 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Fall River’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Fall River’s government
How much does Fall River spend per resident?
About $5,930 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,947 was less than 72% of 18 Massachusetts cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Fall River?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,953 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.00% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fallriverma.org.
Who runs Fall River’s government?
See fallriverma.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Fall River yet.
How did Fall River vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 49.9%, Kamala D Harris 48.2% (30,549 votes, official results). Bristol County: Harris 49.6%, Trump 48.3%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Fall River?
3,068 full-time and 387 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $20.2M (about $242.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Fall River in the state legislature?
Fall River is split among 3 State House districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District First Bristol and Plymouth (Michael Rodrigues). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Fall River’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 →