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Lunenburg Town Hall and Hadwen Park Market, Lunenburg MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
Town Hall · Lunenburg

Lunenburg spent less per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar towns

Lunenburg’s town government spent $44.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,775 per resident.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$44.6M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,775
In 2022: $3,775, less than 75% of 75 similar towns
Long-term debt
$38.7M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
280
full-time · 130 part-time · March payroll $1.9M
Typical tax bill
$6,401
1.38% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Lunenburg is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,775 per resident in 2022: less than 75% of them

Lunenburg’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,775 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,576, and the middle half spent $3,726–$5,278. Lunenburg spent less than 75% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,726–$5,278Median $4,576Lunenburg

Includes sewer and trash ($1.4 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 →

The group
75

Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lunenburg itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,775 per resident a year, or $10.34 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 65% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 61%From the state 22%Fees & charges 8%From the federal government 6%Sales taxes 1%Interest, fines & other 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%Utility sales <1%
Schools included

Lunenburg runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.5 million; interest on debt $1.4 million; payments to other governments $1.6 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $49.1 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,401 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.38% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Lunenburg$6,401
Ashby$6,034
Townsend$6,031
Massachusetts$5,992
Leominster$5,256
Shirley$5,156
Fitchburg$4,456
$6,401
typical bill a year
1.38%
effective rate
$463,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Lunenburg

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

See lunenburgonline.com for Lunenburg’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Lunenburg yet.lunenburgonline.com ↗
Agendas

Lunenburg’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on lunenburgonline.com ↗.

Who works for Lunenburg

One full-time town employee for every 42 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 (11,810).

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

Schools211 + 45 pt
Fire8 + 60 pt
Police16 + 4 pt
Administration & buildings13 + 6 pt
Roads & transportation11 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries5 + 7 pt
Health & welfare3 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash4
Other9 + 1 pt
280
full-time
130
part-time
$1.9M
payroll for March 2022
$23.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$75,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
15
sworn police officers
3
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Lunenburg had 23.7 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 47 of the 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 28.2: Lunenburg had fewer than 87% 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

Lunenburg School District

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

Schools in Lunenburg →
$18,821
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,580
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $18,821 per pupil, $11,804 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 53%State 40%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 Lunenburg voted in 2024

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

President7,247 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat53.3%3,866 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.3%3,207 votes

Others: 2.4% (174 votes).

Most votes in Lunenburg: Kamala D Harris

Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
78%

of Lunenburg’s 9,290 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate7,194 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat50.2%
John DeatonRepublican49.7%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Lunenburg: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 3rd District271,559 votes
Lori Loureiro TrahanDemocrat97.5%
All Others2.5%

Most votes in the district: Lori Loureiro Trahan

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Lunenburg, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Lunenburg53.3%44.3%2.4%7,247
Worcester County53.6%43.7%2.7%420,841
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 Lunenburg

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Lunenburg.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseLunenburg 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 Lunenburg compares with the towns next door

Lunenburg spent $3,775 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,030 to $4,972. 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
Shirley$1,030$5,156
Townsend$1,203$6,031
Fitchburg$3,780 runs schools$4,456
Leominster$3,923 runs schools$5,256
Ashby$4,972$6,034
Lunenburg$3,775$6,401

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 Lunenburg’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Lunenburg’s government

How much does Lunenburg spend per resident?

About $3,775 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 $3,775 was less than 75% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Lunenburg?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,401 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.38% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see lunenburgonline.com.

Who runs Lunenburg’s government?

See lunenburgonline.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lunenburg yet.

How did Lunenburg vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 53.3%, Donald J Trump 44.3% (7,247 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Lunenburg?

280 full-time and 130 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.9M (about $23.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Lunenburg in the state legislature?

Lunenburg is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Worcester and Middlesex (John Cronin). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Lunenburg’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 →