Twin Lights Historic District-Cape Ann Light Station · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY-SA 3.0In Rockport, 88% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Rockport’s town government spent $49.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,122 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Rockport is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$5,619 per resident in 2022: more than 74% of them
Rockport’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,619 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–$5,605. Rockport spent more than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($1.9 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 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Rockport itself left out).
About $7,122 per resident a year, or $19.51 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 45% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Rockport 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.
Day-to-day spending is up 20% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Rockport 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: $5,619 · 2023: $6,149 · 2024: $7,122. Per resident it went from $5,619 to $7,122 (up 27%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 7,312 to 6,925.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $6,215 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.83% 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 Rockport’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 Rockport’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Rockport →
Who’s in charge in Rockport
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Rockport’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on town.rockport.ma.us ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 23 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 (6,925).
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.
Rockport School District
Rockport’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Rockport, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $31,091 per pupil, $19,715 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 Rockport voted in 2024
Official results for Rockport’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat72.0%3,725 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican25.7%1,332 votesOthers: 2.3% (118 votes).
Most votes in Rockport: Kamala D Harris
Essex County: Harris 58.9%, Trump 38.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Rockport’s 5,891 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Rockport: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Essex County: Warren 57.8%, Deaton 42.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Seth W Moulton
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Rockport, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockport | 72.0% | 25.7% | 2.3% | 5,175 |
| Essex County | 58.9% | 38.7% | 2.5% | 401,851 |
| 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 Rockport.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: town.rockport.ma.us ↗
- 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 Rockport compares with the towns next door
Rockport spent $5,619 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are cities, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar towns, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | $4,376 runs schools | $6,152 |
| Rockport | $5,619 | $6,215 |
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 Rockport’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Rockport’s government
How much does Rockport spend per resident?
About $7,122 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 $5,619 was more than 74% of 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Rockport?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,215 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.83% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see town.rockport.ma.us.
Who runs Rockport’s government?
See town.rockport.ma.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Rockport yet.
How did Rockport vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 72.0%, Donald J Trump 25.7% (5,175 votes, official results). Essex County: Harris 58.9%, Trump 38.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Rockport?
303 full-time and 109 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.7M (about $20.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Rockport in the state legislature?
State Senate District First Essex and Middlesex (Bruce Tarr) and State House District 5th Essex (Dru Tarr). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Rockport’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 →