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Harwich MA Town HallPhoto: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Harwich

Harwich spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar towns

Harwich’s town government spent $31.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,627 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$31.9M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,627
In 2022: $2,627, more than 93% of 15 similar towns
Long-term debt
$29.2M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
184
full-time · 43 part-time · March payroll $1.3M
Typical tax bill
$4,189
0.64% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Harwich is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar townsIn 2022: $2,627 per resident, more than 93% of 15 similar towns.A shared school districtShares Monomoy Regional School District with 1 other town.Its own police and fire31 sworn officers and 36 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Harwich’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,627 per resident a year, or $7.20 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 22%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 71%Fees & charges 14%Utility sales 6%Sales taxes 3%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Interest, fines & other 1%From the federal government 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $6.9 million; interest on debt $1.1 million; payments to other governments $29.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $71.8 million.
About “Other”.28% of Harwich’s day-to-day spending ($8.9 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$2,627 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them

Harwich’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,627 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 15 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,362, and the middle half spent $1,178–$1,616. Harwich spent more than 93% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,178–$1,616Median $1,362Harwich

Includes sewer and trash ($201,000), 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
15

Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Harwich itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,189 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Harwich Port$5,827
Orleans$5,486
Northwest Harwich$4,414
Brewster$4,397
Harwich$4,189
Chatham$4,094
East Harwich$3,951
Dennis$2,877
Dennis Port$2,191
$4,189
typical bill a year
0.64%
effective rate
$658,600
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Harwich

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

See harwichma.virtualtownhall.net for Harwich’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Harwich yet.harwichma.virtualtownhall.net ↗
Who works for Harwich

One full-time town employee for every 66 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 (12,144).

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

Police38 + 2 pt
Fire36 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries22 + 18 pt
Roads & transportation18 + 2 pt
Administration & buildings14 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash10 + 4 pt
Water & other utilities11
Health & welfare9 + 2 pt
Other26 + 8 pt
184
full-time
43
part-time
$1.3M
payroll for March 2022
$16.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$83,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
31
sworn police officers
36
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Harwich had 15.2 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 11 of the 15 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.4: Harwich had more than 100% 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

Monomoy Regional School District

Harwich’s K–12 school district, shared with Chatham. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Harwich →
$27,536
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,746
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $27,536 per pupil, $16,995 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 75%State 19%Federal 6%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Harwich voted in 2024

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

President9,282 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat60.3%5,598 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican37.6%3,492 votes

Others: 2.1% (192 votes).

Most votes in Harwich: Kamala D Harris

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

Turnout
78%

of Harwich’s 11,908 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate9,224 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat55.7%
John DeatonRepublican44.2%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Harwich: 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: Harwich, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Harwich60.3%37.6%2.1%9,282
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 Harwich

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Harwich.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: harwichma.virtualtownhall.net ↗
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
    Hadley Luddy
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
    Julian Cyr
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Maura Healey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    William R. Keating
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
    Elizabeth WarrenEdward J. Markey

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

Next door

How Harwich compares with the towns next door

Harwich spent $2,627 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,862 to $5,050. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Chatham: $4,694 per resident (2022)Harwich Port: unincorporated, no town budgetEast Harwich: unincorporated, no town budgetBrewster: $3,408 per resident (2022)Northwest Harwich: unincorporated, no town budgetDennis: $2,862 per resident (2022)Dennis Port: unincorporated, no town budgetOrleans: $5,050 per resident (2022)ChathamHarwich PortEast HarwichBrewsterNorthwest HarwichDennisDennis PortOrleansHarwich
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Dennis$2,862$2,877
Brewster$3,408 runs schools$4,397
Chatham$4,694$4,094
Orleans$5,050 runs schools$5,486
Harwich$2,627$4,189

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 Harwich’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websiteharwichma.virtualtownhall.net ↗

Questions about Harwich’s government

How much does Harwich spend per resident?

About $2,627 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 $2,627 was more than 93% of 15 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Harwich?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,189 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see harwichma.virtualtownhall.net.

Who runs Harwich’s government?

See harwichma.virtualtownhall.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Harwich yet.

How did Harwich vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 60.3%, Donald J Trump 37.6% (9,282 votes, official results). Barnstable County: Harris 59.2%, Trump 38.6%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Harwich?

184 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.3M (about $16.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Harwich 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.

When is the next public meeting in Harwich?

The next posted meeting is Capital Outlay Committee on Wednesday, November 4, at 11:00 am in Griffin Room, Town Hall, 732 Main Street, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Harwich’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 →