Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 4.0Wales spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns
Wales’ town government spent $2.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,421 per resident.
What stands out about how Wales is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,421 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them
Wales’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,421 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools: the median was $3,476, and the middle half spent $2,976–$4,298. Wales spent less than 100% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Wales itself left out).
About $1,421 per resident a year, or $3.89 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 100% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Wales runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools.
No trend yet
Wales reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,534 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.53% 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 Wales’ 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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Wales’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Wales →
Who’s in charge in Wales
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Wales’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofwales.net ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 55 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,862).
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.
Tantasqua School District
Wales’ middle and high school district, shared with Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge. The schools are run by Wales, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $18,951 per pupil, $12,101 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.
Wales School District · $33,688 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Wales voted in 2024
Official results for Wales’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican59.5%673 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat38.4%434 votesOthers: 2.1% (24 votes).
Most votes in Wales: Donald J Trump
Hampden County: Harris 53.2%, Trump 44.3% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Wales’ 1,482 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Wales: John Deaton
Hampden County: Warren 54.0%, Deaton 45.8% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Richard E Neal
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Wales, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 59.5% | 38.4% | 2.1% | 1,131 |
| Hampden County | 44.3% | 53.2% | 2.5% | 208,604 |
| Massachusetts | 36.0% | 61.2% | 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 Wales.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: townofwales.net ↗
- 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 Wales compares with the towns next door
Wales spent $1,421 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $2,716 to $3,857. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
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 Wales’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Wales’ government
How much does Wales spend per resident?
About $1,421 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,421 was less than 100% of 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Wales?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,534 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.53% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofwales.net.
Who runs Wales’ government?
See townofwales.net for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Wales yet.
How did Wales vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 59.5%, Kamala D Harris 38.4% (1,131 votes, official results). Hampden County: Harris 53.2%, Trump 44.3%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Wales?
34 full-time and 43 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $183,661 (about $2.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Wales in the state legislature?
State Senate District Worcester and Hampden (Ryan Fattman) and State House District 1st Hampden (Todd Smola). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Wales’ 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 →