Photo: Terageorge · CC BY-SA 3.0Reading spent more per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar towns
Reading’s town government spent $149.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,929 per resident. Water and other utilities ($89.7 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Reading is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$4,836 per resident in 2022: more than 67% of them
Reading’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,836 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–$5,138. Reading spent more than 67% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($7.9 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 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Reading itself left out).
About $5,929 per resident a year, or $16.24 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 57% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Reading 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.
Day-to-day spending is up 21% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Reading reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $4,836 · 2023: $5,272 · 2024: $5,929.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $9,320 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.15% 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 Reading’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 Reading’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Reading →
Who’s in charge in Reading
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Reading’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on ci.reading.ma.us ↗.
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 2024 finance file (25,205).
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.
Reading School District
Reading’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Reading, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $21,137 per pupil, $12,876 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.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Reading voted in 2024
Official results for Reading’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat63.8%10,431 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican34.3%5,607 votesOthers: 1.9% (303 votes).
Most votes in Reading: Kamala D Harris
Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Reading’s 18,960 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Reading: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Middlesex County: Warren 66.5%, Deaton 33.3% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Seth W Moulton
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Reading, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 63.8% | 34.3% | 1.9% | 16,341 |
| Middlesex County | 68.0% | 28.9% | 3.1% | 814,832 |
| 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 Reading.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: ci.reading.ma.us ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseReading is split between 2 districts
- 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 Reading compares with the towns next door
Reading spent $4,836 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $3,616 to $5,441. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Stoneham | $3,616 runs schools | $6,523 |
| Woburn | $4,307 runs schools | $5,354 |
| Wakefield | $4,755 runs schools | $7,779 |
| Wilmington | $4,837 runs schools | $7,704 |
| North Reading | $5,239 runs schools | $9,693 |
| Lynnfield | $5,441 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Reading | $4,836 | $9,320 |
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 Reading’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Reading’s government
How much does Reading spend per resident?
About $5,929 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 $4,836 was more than 67% of 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Reading?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $9,320 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.15% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.reading.ma.us.
Who runs Reading’s government?
See ci.reading.ma.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Reading yet.
How did Reading vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 63.8%, Donald J Trump 34.3% (16,341 votes, official results). Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Reading?
841 full-time and 315 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $5.2M (about $62.4M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Reading in the state legislature?
Reading is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Fifth Middlesex (Jason Lewis). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Reading’s 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 →