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2016-06-11 11 03 54 View west along Maryland State Route 132 (Bel Air Avenue) at Howard Street in Aberdeen, Harford County, MarylandPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Aberdeen

Aberdeen spent more per resident in 2022 than 70% of similar cities

Aberdeen’s city government spent $26.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,575 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Maryland.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$26.6M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,575
In 2022: $1,316, more than 70% of 53 similar cities
Long-term debt
$7.1M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
167
full-time · 6 part-time · March payroll $912,208
Typical tax bill
$2,978
1.14% of home value · MD 0.97%

What stands out about how Aberdeen is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,316 per resident in 2022: more than 70% of them

Aberdeen’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,316 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,042, and the middle half spent $783–$1,426. Aberdeen spent more than 70% of them.

Middle half of the group, $783–$1,426Median $1,042Aberdeen

Includes sewer and trash ($7.3 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
53

Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Aberdeen itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,575 per resident a year, or $4.32 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 32%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 28%Fees & charges 23%Utility sales 16%From the federal government 13%Interest, fines & other 7%Income taxes 5%From other local governments 4%Sales taxes 2%From the state 2%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Not in the receipt.Interest on debt $334,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $31.8 million.
About “Other”.28% of Aberdeen’s day-to-day spending ($7.5 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 26% since 2022

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

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$21 million
2023$25.9 million
2024$26.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,316 · 2023: $1,536 · 2024: $1,575. Per resident it went from $1,316 to $1,575 (up 20%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 15,964 to 16,859.

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 $2,978 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.14% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Maryland$4,093
Havre de Grace$3,873
Aberdeen$2,978
Perryman$2,604
$2,978
typical bill a year
1.14%
effective rate
$261,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

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

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Aberdeen

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

See aberdeen-md.org for Aberdeen’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Aberdeen yet.aberdeen-md.org ↗
Agendas

Aberdeen’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on aberdeen-md.org ↗.

Who works for Aberdeen

One full-time city employee for every 101 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (16,859).

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

Police61 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash45
Roads & transportation25
Water & other utilities20
Administration & buildings13
Other3
167
full-time
6
part-time
$912,208
payroll for March 2022
$10.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$64,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
45
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Aberdeen had 10.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 43 of the 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 5.9: Aberdeen had more than 86% 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

Harford County Public Schools

Aberdeen’s K–12 school district, shared with Bel Air, Havre de Grace. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Aberdeen →
$17,479
per pupil · MD $20,258
38,105
students
$339.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $17,479 per pupil, $10,770 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 42%Federal 7%

Maryland districts overall: 47% local, 44% state, 9% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Aberdeen’s votes are counted by county

Maryland reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Aberdeen alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Harford County’s results.

President · Harford County’s results150,090 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican55.3%83,050 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.6%62,453 votes

Others: 3.1% (4,587 votes).

Most votes in Harford County: Donald J Trump

Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%

The county’s page

100% of Aberdeen lies in Harford County. Every 2024 race in Harford County is on the county’s page.

Harford County’s 2024 results →
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 Aberdeen

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Aberdeen.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Maryland House of DelegatesState representatives
  3. 3
    Maryland SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland

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

Next door

How Aberdeen compares with the towns next door

Aberdeen spent $1,316 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $1,345. 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
Havre de Grace$1,345$3,873
Aberdeen$1,316$2,978

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 Aberdeen’s government

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

The Handbook →

Questions about Aberdeen’s government

How much does Aberdeen spend per resident?

About $1,575 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 $1,316 was more than 70% of 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Aberdeen?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,978 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.14% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see aberdeen-md.org.

Who runs Aberdeen’s government?

See aberdeen-md.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Aberdeen yet.

How did Aberdeen vote in 2024?

Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Aberdeen alone. Harford County, where 100% of Aberdeen lies, voted Trump 55.3%, Harris 41.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Aberdeen?

167 full-time and 6 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $912,208 (about $10.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Aberdeen in the state legislature?

State Senate District 34 (Mary-Dulany James) and House of Delegates District 34A (Andre Johnson and Steve Johnson). The House of Delegates district also covers 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Aberdeen’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 →