Photo: Jeff Jason II (jeffjason.com) AKA UmassThrower · CC BY-SA 3.0Westfield spent less per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities
Westfield’s city government spent $172.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $4,254 per resident. Water and other utilities ($83.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Westfield is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$3,748 per resident in 2022: less than 82% of them
Westfield’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,748 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,238, and the middle half spent $3,936–$4,686. Westfield spent less than 82% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6 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 cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Westfield itself left out).
About $4,254 per resident a year, or $11.65 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 61% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Westfield runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 12% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Westfield 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: $3,748 · 2023: $4,019 · 2024: $4,254.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,224 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,746 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.46% 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 Westfield’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 Westfield’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Westfield →
Who’s in charge in Westfield
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Westfield’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofwestfield.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 30 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (40,535).
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.
Westfield School District
Westfield’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Westfield, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $20,104 per pupil, $12,717 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 Westfield voted in 2024
Official results for Westfield’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican50.7%10,189 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat46.8%9,407 votesOthers: 2.5% (494 votes).
Most votes in Westfield: Donald J Trump
Hampden County: Harris 53.2%, Trump 44.3% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Westfield’s 31,400 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Westfield: 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: Westfield, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield | 50.7% | 46.8% | 2.5% | 20,090 |
| 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 Westfield.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofwestfield.org ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseWestfield is split between 2 districts
- 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 Westfield compares with the towns next door
Westfield spent $3,748 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Southwick | $1,362 | $5,331 |
| Russell | $1,428 | $5,104 |
| Granville | $1,587 | $4,284 |
| Montgomery | $2,162 runs schools | $4,283 |
| Southampton | $2,462 runs schools | $5,470 |
| West Springfield Town | $4,111 runs schools | $4,380 |
| Agawam Town | $4,555 runs schools | $4,241 |
| Holyoke | $5,852 runs schools | $4,065 |
| Westfield | $3,748 | $4,746 |
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 Westfield’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Westfield’s government
How much does Westfield spend per resident?
About $4,254 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 $3,748 was less than 82% of 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Westfield?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,746 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.46% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofwestfield.org.
Who runs Westfield’s government?
See cityofwestfield.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Westfield yet.
How did Westfield vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 50.7%, Kamala D Harris 46.8% (20,090 votes, official results). Hampden County: Harris 53.2%, Trump 44.3%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Westfield?
1,342 full-time and 277 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $8.6M (about $102.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Westfield in the state legislature?
Westfield is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Massachusetts Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Hampden and Hampshire (John Velis). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Westfield’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 →