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Plymouth Rock Monument 2Photo: Rhonda McCloughan (Pr41799) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Plymouth

Plymouth spent less per resident in 2022 than 81% of similar towns

Plymouth’s town government spent $335.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,216 per resident. Water and other utilities ($3.6 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$335.2M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$5,216
In 2022: $3,991, less than 81% of 32 similar towns
Long-term debt
$212.8M
end of FY2024, reported
Town staff, 2025
1,638
full-time · 466 part-time · March payroll $13.0M
Typical tax bill
$6,599
1.25% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Plymouth is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,991 per resident in 2022: less than 81% of them

Plymouth’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,991 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 32 Massachusetts towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,591, and the middle half spent $4,122–$5,216. Plymouth spent less than 81% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,122–$5,216Median $4,591Plymouth

Includes sewer and trash ($5.7 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
32

Massachusetts towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Plymouth itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $5,216 per resident a year, or $14.29 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 55% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 68%From the state 14%Fees & charges 8%From the federal government 3%Interest, fines & other 3%Utility sales 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes 1%From other local governments <1%
Schools included

Plymouth runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $30.5 million; interest on debt $7.9 million; payments to other governments $5 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $384.8 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 34% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$250.1 million
2023$284.4 million
2024$335.2 million

Per resident: 2022: $3,991 · 2023: $4,578 · 2024: $5,216.

Town staff
1,638

full-time in March 2025, up from 1,622 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

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 $6,599 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.25% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Duxbury$9,518
Kingston$7,650
Plymouth$6,599
Carver$6,455
North Plymouth$6,121
Massachusetts$5,992
Sagamore$4,796
Bourne$4,485
Wareham$4,341
White Island Shores$3,925
$6,599
typical bill a year
1.25%
effective rate
$527,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Plymouth

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

See plymouth-ma.gov for Plymouth’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Plymouth yet.plymouth-ma.gov ↗
Agendas

Plymouth’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on plymouth-ma.gov ↗.

Who works for Plymouth

One full-time town employee for every 39 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 (64,269).

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

Schools1,122 + 400 pt
Fire142 + 1 pt
Police125 + 4 pt
Administration & buildings62 + 13 pt
Parks & libraries51 + 35 pt
Roads & transportation60 + 2 pt
Health & welfare21 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities18
Sewer & trash8 + 1 pt
Housing & development3
Other26 + 4 pt
1,638
full-time
466
part-time
$13.0M
payroll for March 2025
$156.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
118
sworn police officers
136
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Plymouth’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

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

Plymouth School District

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

Schools in Plymouth →
$24,163
per pupil · MA $26,530
7,055
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $24,163 per pupil, $13,876 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 61%State 32%Federal 7%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Plymouth voted in 2024

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

President40,354 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat53.7%21,658 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican44.2%17,831 votes

Others: 2.1% (865 votes).

Most votes in Plymouth: Kamala D Harris

Plymouth County: Harris 53.3%, Trump 44.5% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
79%

of Plymouth’s 51,132 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate40,042 votes
John DeatonRepublican50.6%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat49.3%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Plymouth: John Deaton

Plymouth County: Deaton 50.0%, Warren 49.9% · 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: Plymouth, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Plymouth53.7%44.2%2.1%40,354
Plymouth County53.3%44.5%2.2%300,129
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 Plymouth

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Plymouth.

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

Plymouth spent $3,991 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,936 to $5,317. 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
Kingston$2,936 runs schools$7,650
Wareham$3,908 runs schools$4,341
Carver$4,051 runs schools$6,455
Bourne$4,328 runs schools$4,485
Duxbury$5,317 runs schools$9,518
Plymouth$3,991$6,599

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 Plymouth’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Plymouth’s government

How much does Plymouth spend per resident?

About $5,216 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 $3,991 was less than 81% of 32 Massachusetts towns and townships of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Plymouth?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,599 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.25% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see plymouth-ma.gov.

Who runs Plymouth’s government?

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

How did Plymouth vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 53.7%, Donald J Trump 44.2% (40,354 votes, official results). Plymouth County: Harris 53.3%, Trump 44.5%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Plymouth?

1,638 full-time and 466 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $13.0M (about $156.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Plymouth in the state legislature?

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

Ask neighbors about Plymouth’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 →