Photo: Elkman at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Oak Bluffs spent more per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar towns
Oak Bluffs’ town government spent $46.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $9,939 per resident.
What stands out about how Oak Bluffs is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$9,939 per resident in 2022: more than 96% of them
Oak Bluffs’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($9,939 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,160, and the middle half spent $3,380–$5,590. Oak Bluffs spent more than 96% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.1 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 →
Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Oak Bluffs itself left out).
About $9,939 per resident a year, or $27.23 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 31% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Oak Bluffs runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
No trend yet
Oak Bluffs reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,845 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.52% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Oak Bluffs’ 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 Oak Bluffs’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Oak Bluffs →
Who’s in charge in Oak Bluffs
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Oak Bluffs’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on oakbluffsma.gov ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 30 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 (4,696).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Martha's Vineyard School District
Oak Bluffs’ high school district, shared with Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Tisbury, West Tisbury. The schools are run by Oak Bluffs, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $44,683 per pupil, $29,430 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.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
Oak Bluffs School District · $35,418 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Oak Bluffs voted in 2024
Official results for Oak Bluffs’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat72.3%2,247 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican25.7%798 votesOthers: 2.0% (61 votes).
Most votes in Oak Bluffs: Kamala D Harris
Dukes County: Harris 74.8%, Trump 22.5% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Oak Bluffs’ 3,826 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Oak Bluffs: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Dukes County: Warren 72.9%, Deaton 27.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Bill Keating
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Oak Bluffs, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Bluffs | 72.3% | 25.7% | 2.0% | 3,106 |
| Dukes County | 74.8% | 22.5% | 2.7% | 12,209 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
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.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Oak Bluffs.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: oakbluffsma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Oak Bluffs compares with the towns next door
Oak Bluffs spent $9,939 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $6,639 to $7,999. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Oak Bluffs’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Oak Bluffs’ government
How much does Oak Bluffs spend per resident?
About $9,939 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 $9,939 was more than 96% of 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Oak Bluffs?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,845 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.52% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oakbluffsma.gov.
Who runs Oak Bluffs’ government?
See oakbluffsma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Oak Bluffs yet.
How did Oak Bluffs vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 72.3%, Donald J Trump 25.7% (3,106 votes, official results). Dukes County: Harris 74.8%, Trump 22.5%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Oak Bluffs?
157 full-time and 47 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Oak Bluffs 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.
Ask neighbors about Oak Bluffs’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
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 →