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Swansea Town HallPhoto: T.S. Custadio ToddC4176 15:04, 3 February 2007 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Swansea

Swansea spent less per resident in 2022 than 91% of similar towns

Swansea’s town government spent $61.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $3,572 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2023
$61.7M
year to June 30, 2023
Per resident, 2023
$3,572
In 2022: $3,281, less than 91% of 75 similar towns
Long-term debt
$4.1M
end of FY2023, reported
Town staff, 2022
366
full-time · 83 part-time · March payroll $1.9M
Typical tax bill
$4,846
1.09% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Swansea is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,281 per resident in 2022: less than 91% of them

Swansea’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,281 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,576, and the middle half spent $3,786–$5,278. Swansea spent less than 91% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,786–$5,278Median $4,576Swansea

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
75

Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Swansea itself left out).

Your share of the 2023 budget

About $3,572 per resident a year, or $9.79 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 60% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 60%From the state 26%From the federal government 7%Fees & charges 3%Interest, fines & other 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes <1%
Schools included

Swansea runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.3 million; interest on debt $170,000; payments to other governments $2.2 million. With these, the whole budget was $68.3 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 11% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$55.8 million
2023$61.7 million

Per resident: 2022: $3,281 · 2023: $3,572.

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 $4,846 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.09% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Dighton$6,452
Massachusetts$5,992
Rehoboth$5,557
Warren$5,474
Somerset$4,977
Seekonk$4,956
Swansea$4,846
$4,846
typical bill a year
1.09%
effective rate
$445,000
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Swansea

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

See swanseama.gov for Swansea’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Swansea yet.swanseama.gov ↗
Agendas

Swansea’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on swanseama.gov ↗.

Who works for Swansea

One full-time town employee for every 47 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (17,259).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Schools273 + 38 pt
Police35 + 7 pt
Administration & buildings19
Health & welfare10 + 18 pt
Roads & transportation12
Parks & libraries6 + 12 pt
Fire6 + 8 pt
Other5
366
full-time
83
part-time
$1.9M
payroll for March 2022
$23.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$60,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
29
sworn police officers
6
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Swansea had 21.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 47 of the 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 28.2: Swansea had fewer than 96% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

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

Swansea School District

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

Schools in Swansea →
$19,130
per pupil · MA $26,530
2,049
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $19,130 per pupil, $11,884 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 50%State 41%Federal 9%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Swansea voted in 2024

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

President10,331 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican55.5%5,735 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat42.6%4,402 votes

Others: 1.9% (194 votes).

Most votes in Swansea: Donald J Trump

Bristol County: Harris 49.6%, Trump 48.3% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
76%

of Swansea’s 13,588 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate10,119 votes
John DeatonRepublican58.6%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat41.3%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Swansea: John Deaton

Bristol County: Deaton 50.3%, Warren 49.6% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 4th District297,725 votes
Jake AuchinclossDemocrat97.2%
All Others2.4%
Others0.4%

Most votes in the district: Jake Auchincloss

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Swansea, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Swansea55.5%42.6%1.9%10,331
Bristol County48.3%49.6%2.2%278,017
Massachusetts36.0%61.2%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 Swansea

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Swansea.

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

Swansea spent $3,281 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $885 to $4,576. 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
Rehoboth$885$5,557
Dighton$1,393$6,452
Somerset$3,216 runs schools$4,977
Seekonk$4,576 runs schools$4,956
Swansea$3,281$4,846

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 Swansea’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Swansea’s government

How much does Swansea spend per resident?

About $3,572 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,281 was less than 91% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Swansea?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,846 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.09% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see swanseama.gov.

Who runs Swansea’s government?

See swanseama.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Swansea yet.

How did Swansea vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 55.5%, Kamala D Harris 42.6% (10,331 votes, official results). Bristol County: Harris 49.6%, Trump 48.3%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Swansea?

366 full-time and 83 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.9M (about $23.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Swansea in the state legislature?

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

Ask neighbors about Swansea’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 →