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Town Hall · Lexington

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

Lexington’s town government spent $343.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $10,093 per resident. Water and other utilities ($12.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$343.9M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$10,093
In 2022: $8,443, more than 93% of 30 similar towns
Long-term debt
$200.3M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2022
1,305
full-time · 406 part-time · March payroll $11.5M
Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year

What stands out about how Lexington is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$8,443 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them

Lexington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($8,443 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,548, and the middle half spent $4,076–$4,993. Lexington spent more than 93% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,076–$4,993Median $4,548Lexington

Includes sewer and trash ($10.5 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 →

The group
30

Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lexington itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $10,093 per resident a year, or $27.65 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 61% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 68%From the state 10%Fees & charges 10%Interest, fines & other 5%Utility sales 4%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes 1%From other local governments <1%
Schools included

Lexington runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $59.7 million; interest on debt $7.7 million; payments to other governments $3.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $427.6 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 23% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Lexington reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$278.7 million
2023$294.2 million
2024$343.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $8,443 · 2023: $8,635 · 2024: $10,093.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

Typical bills top $10,000 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Lexington$10,000+
Winchester$10,000+
Lincoln$10,000+
Bedford$10,000+
Belmont$10,000+
Arlington$9,604
Burlington$6,165
Massachusetts$5,992
Woburn$5,354
Waltham$4,766
$10,000+
typical bill a year
$1,203,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lexington

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

See lexingtonma.gov for Lexington’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lexington yet.lexingtonma.gov ↗
Agendas

Lexington’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on lexingtonma.gov ↗.

Who works for Lexington

One full-time town employee for every 26 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (34,074).

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

Schools1,039 + 324 pt
Parks & libraries59 + 53 pt
Fire65
Police58 + 10 pt
Administration & buildings36
Roads & transportation23 + 1 pt
Health & welfare10 + 8 pt
Sewer & trash6
Other9 + 10 pt
1,305
full-time
406
part-time
$11.5M
payroll for March 2022
$137.8M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$96,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
53
sworn police officers
64
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Lexington had 39.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 18 of the 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 29.4: Lexington 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

Lexington School District

Lexington’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Lexington, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Lexington →
$29,148
per pupil · MA $26,530
6,805
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $29,148 per pupil, $17,968 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 21%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 Lexington voted in 2024

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

President18,349 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat78.3%14,362 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican17.9%3,279 votes

Others: 3.9% (708 votes).

Most votes in Lexington: Kamala D Harris

Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
83%

of Lexington’s 22,024 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate18,051 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat75.8%
John DeatonRepublican24.0%
Others0.2%

Most votes in Lexington: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Middlesex County: Warren 66.5%, Deaton 33.3% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 5th District291,890 votes
Katherine M ClarkDemocrat98.2%
All Others1.8%

Most votes in the district: Katherine M Clark

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Lexington, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Lexington78.3%17.9%3.9%18,349
Middlesex County68.0%28.9%3.1%814,832
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 Lexington

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lexington.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseLexington is split between 2 districts
  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 Lexington compares with the towns next door

Lexington spent $8,443 per resident in 2022; the 8 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $4,307 to $10,095. 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
Woburn$4,307 runs schools$5,354
Arlington$4,437 runs schools$9,604
Waltham$4,506 runs schools$4,766
Belmont$5,010 runs schools$10,000+
Burlington$5,790 runs schools$6,165
Winchester$6,171 runs schools$10,000+
Bedford$7,497 runs schools$10,000+
Lincoln$10,095 runs schools$10,000+
Lexington$8,443$10,000+

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 Lexington’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Lexington’s government

How much does Lexington spend per resident?

About $10,093 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 $8,443 was more than 93% of 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Who runs Lexington’s government?

See lexingtonma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lexington yet.

How did Lexington vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 78.3%, Donald J Trump 17.9% (18,349 votes, official results). Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Lexington?

1,305 full-time and 406 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $11.5M (about $137.8M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lexington in the state legislature?

Lexington is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lexington’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 →