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Webster, Massachusetts town hallPhoto: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Webster

Webster spent less per resident in 2022 than 83% of similar towns

Webster’s town government spent $59.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,513 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$59.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$3,513
In 2022: $3,513, less than 83% of 75 similar towns
Long-term debt
$42.3M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
414
full-time · 109 part-time · March payroll $2.8M
Typical tax bill
$3,999
1.11% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Webster is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$3,513 per resident in 2022: less than 83% of them

Webster’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,513 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. Webster spent less than 83% of them.

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

Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 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 →

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; Webster itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $3,513 per resident a year, or $9.62 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 65% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 42%From the state 31%From the federal government 10%Fees & charges 8%Utility sales 4%Interest, fines & other 3%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%
Schools included

Webster 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 $5.6 million; interest on debt $1.4 million; payments to other governments $2.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $70 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Webster reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $3,999 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.11% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Douglas$6,338
Massachusetts$5,992
Webster$3,999
Dudley$3,691
$3,999
typical bill a year
1.11%
effective rate
$361,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Webster

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

See webster-ma.gov for Webster’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Webster yet.webster-ma.gov ↗
Agendas

Webster’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on webster-ma.gov ↗.

Who works for Webster

One full-time town employee for every 41 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 (16,822).

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

Schools268 + 67 pt
Police29 + 5 pt
Water & other utilities23 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries12 + 18 pt
Fire20
Roads & transportation12
Administration & buildings11
Health & welfare4 + 11 pt
Sewer & trash2
Other33 + 7 pt
414
full-time
109
part-time
$2.8M
payroll for March 2022
$33.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$77,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
22
sworn police officers
19
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Webster had 24.6 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: Webster had fewer than 72% 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

Webster School District

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

Schools in Webster →
$24,855
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,699
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $24,855 per pupil, $13,076 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 39%State 50%Federal 11%

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

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

Elections · 2024 general election

How Webster voted in 2024

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

President8,167 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican52.9%4,319 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat44.9%3,671 votes

Others: 2.2% (177 votes).

Most votes in Webster: Donald J Trump

Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
59%

of Webster’s 13,777 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

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

U.S. Senate8,063 votes
John DeatonRepublican56.1%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat43.8%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Webster: John Deaton

Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House, 2024: 2 districts cover Webster, so your street decides which race was yours. All 2 districts’ results →

President, 2024: Webster, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Webster52.9%44.9%2.2%8,167
Worcester County43.7%53.6%2.7%420,841
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 Webster

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Webster.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Webster compares with the towns next door

Webster spent $3,513 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $909 to $3,978. 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
Dudley$909$3,691
Douglas$3,978 runs schools$6,338
Webster$3,513$3,999

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 Webster’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Webster’s government

How much does Webster spend per resident?

About $3,513 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 $3,513 was less than 83% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Webster?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,999 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.11% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see webster-ma.gov.

Who runs Webster’s government?

See webster-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Webster yet.

How did Webster vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 52.9%, Kamala D Harris 44.9% (8,167 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Webster?

414 full-time and 109 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.8M (about $33.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Webster in the state legislature?

State Senate District Worcester and Hampden (Ryan Fattman) and State House District 18th Worcester (Joe McKenna). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Webster’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 →