District No. 5 School · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY-SA 3.0Shrewsbury spent less per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar towns
Shrewsbury’s town government spent $201.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,056 per resident. Water and other utilities ($48.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Shrewsbury is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$4,144 per resident in 2022: less than 73% of them
Shrewsbury’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,144 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 $4,591, and the middle half spent $4,080–$5,138. Shrewsbury spent less than 73% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.4 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; Shrewsbury itself left out).
About $5,056 per resident a year, or $13.85 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 63% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Shrewsbury 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 25% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Shrewsbury 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: $4,144 · 2023: $4,625 · 2024: $5,056.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,073 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $6,923 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.17% 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 Shrewsbury’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 Shrewsbury’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Shrewsbury →
Who’s in charge in Shrewsbury
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Shrewsbury’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on shrewsbury-ma.gov ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 31 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 (39,805).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Shrewsbury School District
Shrewsbury’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Shrewsbury, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $20,132 per pupil, $13,009 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 Shrewsbury voted in 2024
Official results for Shrewsbury’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat59.3%11,852 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican36.9%7,378 votesOthers: 3.8% (757 votes).
Most votes in Shrewsbury: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Shrewsbury’s 25,460 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Shrewsbury: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Shrewsbury, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury | 59.3% | 36.9% | 3.8% | 19,987 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| 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 Shrewsbury.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: shrewsbury-ma.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 Shrewsbury compares with the towns next door
Shrewsbury spent $4,144 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,445 to $7,118. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Boylston | $1,445 | $7,266 |
| Grafton | $4,135 runs schools | $7,117 |
| Northborough | $4,213 runs schools | $7,983 |
| West Boylston | $4,213 runs schools | $6,115 |
| Worcester | $4,363 runs schools | $4,733 |
| Westborough | $7,118 runs schools | $9,983 |
| Shrewsbury | $4,144 | $6,923 |
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 Shrewsbury’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Shrewsbury’s government
How much does Shrewsbury spend per resident?
About $5,056 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 $4,144 was less than 73% of 30 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Shrewsbury?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,923 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.17% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see shrewsbury-ma.gov.
Who runs Shrewsbury’s government?
See shrewsbury-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Shrewsbury yet.
How did Shrewsbury vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 59.3%, Donald J Trump 36.9% (19,987 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Shrewsbury?
1,300 full-time and 559 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $9.5M (about $114.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Shrewsbury in the state legislature?
State Senate District Second Worcester (Mike Moore) and State House District 11th Worcester (Hannah Kane). The House district also covers parts of 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Shrewsbury’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 →