Photo: Nick Allen · CC BY-SA 4.0Fitchburg spent less per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar cities
Fitchburg’s city government spent $226.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,447 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Fitchburg is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,780 per resident in 2022: less than 77% of them
Fitchburg’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,780 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,238, and the middle half spent $3,936–$4,686. Fitchburg spent less than 77% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($10.4 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 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fitchburg itself left out).
About $5,447 per resident a year, or $14.92 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 55% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Fitchburg runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 48% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Fitchburg 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: $3,780 · 2023: $4,341 · 2024: $5,447.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,456 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.32% 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 Fitchburg’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 Fitchburg’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Fitchburg →
Who’s in charge in Fitchburg
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Fitchburg’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on fitchburgma.gov ↗.
One full-time city 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 2024 finance file (41,502).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Fitchburg School District
Fitchburg’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Fitchburg, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $22,461 per pupil, $13,263 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 Fitchburg voted in 2024
Official results for Fitchburg’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat54.7%8,613 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican42.7%6,721 votesOthers: 2.7% (418 votes).
Most votes in Fitchburg: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Fitchburg’s 30,716 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Fitchburg: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Lori Loureiro Trahan
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Fitchburg, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg | 54.7% | 42.7% | 2.7% | 15,752 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| 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
Every level of government that speaks for Fitchburg.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: fitchburgma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 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 Fitchburg compares with the towns next door
Fitchburg spent $3,780 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.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Ashburnham | $1,448 | $6,046 |
| Westminster | $1,657 | $4,973 |
| Lunenburg | $3,775 runs schools | $6,401 |
| Leominster | $3,923 runs schools | $5,256 |
| Ashby | $4,972 | $6,034 |
| Fitchburg | $3,780 | $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 Fitchburg’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Fitchburg’s government
How much does Fitchburg spend per resident?
About $5,447 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 $3,780 was less than 77% of 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Fitchburg?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,456 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.32% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fitchburgma.gov.
Who runs Fitchburg’s government?
See fitchburgma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Fitchburg yet.
How did Fitchburg vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 54.7%, Donald J Trump 42.7% (15,752 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Fitchburg?
1,215 full-time and 79 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $6.8M (about $81.5M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Fitchburg in the state legislature?
State Senate District Worcester and Middlesex (John Cronin) and State House District 3rd Worcester (Mike Kushmerek). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Fitchburg’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 →