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Nantucket-08-2004Photo: The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
Town Hall · Nantucket

Nantucket spent more per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns

Nantucket’s town government spent $219.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $15,202 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.4 million) and the airport ($10.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$219.2M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$15,202
In 2022: $12,492, more than 100% of 75 similar towns
Long-term debt
$257.2M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2025
703
full-time · 71 part-time · March payroll $6.4M
Typical tax bill
$3,974
0.25% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Nantucket 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: $12,492 per resident, more than 100% of 75 similar towns.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the town budget, not a separate district.Its own police and fire40 sworn officers and 40 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

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

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Community Preservation CommitteeMonday · 12:00 pm · 131 Pleasant Street, Meeting Trailer, REMOTE PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOMCommunity Preservation Committee UPDATED IIAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct30
    Contract Review Committee, Human ServicesFriday · 9:00 am · 131 Pleasant Street, Trailer Meeting Room A, Remote Participation Via ZoomAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Conservation CommissionThursday · 5:00 pm · PSF COMMUNITY ROOM; 4 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD, Remote Participation Via Zoom WebinarNantucket Conservation CommissionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Nantucket Planning & Economic Development CommissionThursday · 4:00 pm · ONLY REMOTE PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOMAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    County CommissionWednesday · 5:30 pm · PSF COMMUNITY ROOM; 4 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD, Remote Participation Via Zoom WebinarCounty CommissionersAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
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 2024 budget

About $15,202 per resident a year, or $41.65 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 26% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 46%Fees & charges 26%Other taxes & licenses 10%Sales taxes 6%Interest, fines & other 5%From the state 4%Utility sales 3%From the federal government <1%
Schools included

Nantucket 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 $69.8 million; interest on debt $9.2 million; payments to other governments $1.4 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $316.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$12,492 per resident in 2022: more than 100% of them

Nantucket’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($12,492 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 $4,531, and the middle half spent $3,716–$5,260. Nantucket spent more than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,716–$5,260Median $4,531Nantucket

Includes sewer and trash ($17.1 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; Nantucket itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 54% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$142.1 million
2023$135.8 million
2024$219.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $12,492 · 2023: $9,368 · 2024: $15,202. Per resident it went from $12,492 to $15,202 (up 22%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 11,376 to 14,421.

Town staff
703

full-time in March 2025, up from 698 in 2022.

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,974 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.25% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Nantucket$3,974
$3,974
typical bill a year
0.25%
effective rate
$1,593,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Nantucket

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

See nantucket-ma.gov for Nantucket’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Nantucket yet.nantucket-ma.gov ↗
Who works for Nantucket

One full-time town employee for every 21 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (14,421).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Schools341 + 45 pt
Administration & buildings76 + 9 pt
Roads & transportation71 + 1 pt
Police65
Health & welfare54 + 14 pt
Fire42
Sewer & trash22
Water & other utilities10
Housing & development3
Parks & libraries1
Other18 + 2 pt
703
full-time
71
part-time
$6.4M
payroll for March 2025
$76.4M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$106,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
40
sworn police officers
40
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Nantucket had 61.4 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 27.9: Nantucket 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

Nantucket School District

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

Schools in Nantucket →
$31,075
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,683
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $31,075 per pupil, $18,386 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 81%State 16%Federal 2%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Nantucket voted in 2024

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

President7,118 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat67.2%4,784 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican30.5%2,171 votes

Others: 2.3% (163 votes).

Most votes in Nantucket: Kamala D Harris

Nantucket County: Harris 67.2%, Trump 30.5% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
67%

of Nantucket’s 10,649 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate7,000 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat64.5%
John DeatonRepublican35.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Nantucket: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Nantucket County: Warren 64.5%, Deaton 35.4% · 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: Nantucket, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Nantucket67.2%30.5%2.3%7,118
Nantucket County67.2%30.5%2.3%7,118
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 Nantucket

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Nantucket.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: nantucket-ma.gov ↗
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
    Thomas Moakley
  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.

Reach Nantucket’s government

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

The Handbook →
Official websitenantucket-ma.gov ↗

Questions about Nantucket’s government

How much does Nantucket spend per resident?

About $15,202 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 $12,492 was more than 100% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Nantucket?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,974 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.25% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see nantucket-ma.gov.

Who runs Nantucket’s government?

See nantucket-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Nantucket yet.

How did Nantucket vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 67.2%, Donald J Trump 30.5% (7,118 votes, official results). Nantucket County: Harris 67.2%, Trump 30.5%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Nantucket?

703 full-time and 71 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $6.4M (about $76.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Nantucket in the state legislature?

State Senate District Cape and Islands (Julian Cyr) and State House District Barnstable-Dukes-Nantucket (Thomas Moakley). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Nantucket?

The next posted meeting is Historic District Commission on Tuesday, November 3, at 4:00 pm in PSF COMMUNITY ROOM; 4 FAIRGROUNDS ROAD, Remote Participation Via Zoom Webinar, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Nantucket’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 →