Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0In Washington, 79% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Washington’s town government spent $1.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,738 per resident.
What stands out about how Washington is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$2,738 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them
Washington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,738 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,057, and the middle half spent $1,652–$2,633. Washington spent more than 79% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($36,000), 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 under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Washington itself left out).
About $2,738 per resident a year, or $7.50 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 62%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Washington reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,381 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.18% 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 Washington’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Washington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Washington →
Who’s in charge in Washington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 135 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 (541).
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.
Central Berkshire School District
Washington’s K–12 school district, shared with Becket, Cummington, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $21,946 per pupil, $12,540 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 Washington voted in 2024
Official results for Washington’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat61.1%218 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican36.1%129 votesOthers: 2.8% (10 votes).
Most votes in Washington: Kamala D Harris
Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Washington’s 454 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Washington: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Berkshire County: Warren 70.0%, Deaton 29.9% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: Richard E Neal
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Washington, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 61.1% | 36.1% | 2.8% | 357 |
| Berkshire County | 68.6% | 28.8% | 2.6% | 68,674 |
| 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 Washington.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 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 Washington compares with the towns next door
Washington spent $2,738 per resident in 2022; the 8 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,144 to $6,002. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Dalton | $1,144 | $4,276 |
| Hinsdale | $1,423 | $3,065 |
| Peru | $1,643 runs schools | $3,805 |
| Middlefield | $1,708 | $4,926 |
| Becket | $2,684 | $3,047 |
| Pittsfield | $4,826 runs schools | $4,148 |
| Lee | $5,638 runs schools | $3,980 |
| Lenox | $6,002 runs schools | $5,299 |
| Washington | $2,738 | $4,381 |
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 Washington’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Washington’s government
How much does Washington spend per resident?
About $2,738 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 $2,738 was more than 79% of 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Washington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,381 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.
Who runs Washington’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Washington yet.
How did Washington vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 61.1%, Donald J Trump 36.1% (357 votes, official results). Berkshire County: Harris 68.6%, Trump 28.8%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Washington?
4 full-time and 17 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $33,717 (about $404,604 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Washington in the state legislature?
State Senate District Berkshire-Hampden-Franklin-Hampshire (Paul Mark) and State House District 3rd Berkshire (Leigh Davis). The House district also covers 17 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Washington’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 →