Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Hancock

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Round Stone Barn with "House form" in the foregroundPhoto: Bestbudbrian · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Hancock

In Hancock, 80% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts

Hancock’s town government spent $2.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,112 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,112
In 2022: $3,112, less than 71% of 31 similar towns
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
11
full-time · 25 part-time · March payroll $63,550
Typical tax bill
$1,018
0.27% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Hancock is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,112 per resident in 2022: less than 71% of them

Hancock’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,112 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools: the median was $3,476, and the middle half spent $2,791–$4,298. Hancock spent less than 71% of them.

Middle half of the group, $2,791–$4,298Median $3,476Hancock

Includes sewer and trash ($66,000), 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
31

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,112 per resident a year, or $8.53 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 72% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 36%From the state 32%From the federal government 13%Sales taxes 13%From other local governments 4%Fees & charges 1%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Schools included

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

Not in the receipt.Building projects $10,000; payments to other governments $615,000. With these, the whole budget was $2.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,018 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.27% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Richmond$5,575
Lanesborough$5,007
Pittsfield$4,148
New Ashford$3,196
Hancock$1,018
$1,018
typical bill a year
0.27%
effective rate
$375,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Hancock

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

Check Hancock’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Hancock yet.
Who works for Hancock

One full-time town employee for every 63 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 (695).

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

Schools11 + 12 pt
Administration & buildings0 + 10 pt
Parks & libraries0 + 2 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt
11
full-time
25
part-time
$63,550
payroll for March 2022
$762,600
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$35,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Hancock had 15.8 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 14 of the 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 18.6: Hancock had fewer than 64% 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

Hancock School District

Hancock’s elementary school district. The schools are run by Hancock, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Hancock →
$23,655
per pupil · MA $26,530
58
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $23,655 per pupil, $13,431 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 36%State 60%Federal 4%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Hancock voted in 2024

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

President483 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat50.7%245 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican46.8%226 votes

Others: 2.5% (12 votes).

Most votes in Hancock: Kamala D Harris

Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
80%

of Hancock’s 604 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate482 votes
John DeatonRepublican51.7%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat48.3%

Most votes in Hancock: John Deaton

Berkshire County: Warren 70.0%, Deaton 29.9% · 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: Hancock, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Hancock50.7%46.8%2.5%483
Berkshire County68.6%28.8%2.6%68,674
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 Hancock

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Hancock.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  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 Hancock compares with the towns next door

Hancock spent $3,112 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,412 to $5,557. 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
Lanesborough$1,412$5,007
New Ashford$3,592 runs schools$3,196
Pittsfield$4,826 runs schools$4,148
Richmond$5,557 runs schools$5,575
Hancock$3,112$1,018

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 Hancock’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Hancock’s government

How much does Hancock spend per resident?

About $3,112 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 $3,112 was less than 71% of 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Hancock?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,018 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.27% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Hancock’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Hancock yet.

How did Hancock vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 50.7%, Donald J Trump 46.8% (483 votes, official results). Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Hancock?

11 full-time and 25 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $63,550 (about $762,600 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Hancock in the state legislature?

State Senate District Berkshire-Hampden-Franklin-Hampshire (Paul Mark) and State House District 1st Berkshire (John Barrett). The House district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Hancock’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 →