Pine Street Neighborhood Historic District · Photo: Daniel L. Brandewie · CC BY-SA 3.0Cambridge spent more per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar cities
Cambridge’s city government spent $26 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,981 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.1 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Cambridge is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,581 per resident in 2022: more than 85% of them
Cambridge’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,581 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–$1,417. Cambridge spent more than 85% 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 →
Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cambridge itself left out).
About $1,981 per resident a year, or $5.43 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 26%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 35% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Cambridge 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: $1,581 · 2023: $1,717 · 2024: $1,981. Per resident it went from $1,581 to $1,981 (up 25%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 12,213 to 13,129.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $2,617 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.01% of the home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cambridge’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 Cambridge’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cambridge →
Who’s in charge in Cambridge
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cambridge’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on choosecambridge.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 137 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 (13,129).
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.
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge’s K–12 school district, shared with Brookview, Church Creek, East New Market, Eldorado, Galestown and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $26,317 per pupil, $15,635 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.
Maryland districts overall: 47% local, 44% state, 9% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Cambridge’s votes are counted by county
Maryland reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cambridge alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Dorchester County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican56.0%9,390 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat41.5%6,954 votesOthers: 2.6% (428 votes).
Most votes in Dorchester County: Donald J Trump
Maryland: Harris 62.6%, Trump 34.1%
100% of Cambridge lies in Dorchester County. Every 2024 race in Dorchester County is on the county’s page.
Dorchester County’s 2024 results →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 Cambridge.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: choosecambridge.com ↗
- 2Maryland House of DelegatesCambridge is split between 2 districts
- 3Maryland SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maryland
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Cambridge compares with the towns next door
Cambridge spent $1,581 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | $1,581 | $2,617 |
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 Cambridge’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cambridge’s government
How much does Cambridge spend per resident?
About $1,981 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 $1,581 was more than 85% of 53 Maryland cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cambridge?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,617 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.01% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.97% across Maryland. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see choosecambridge.com.
Who runs Cambridge’s government?
See choosecambridge.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cambridge yet.
How did Cambridge vote in 2024?
Maryland counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Cambridge alone. Dorchester County, where 100% of Cambridge lies, voted Trump 56.0%, Harris 41.5% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Cambridge?
96 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $474,359 (about $5.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Cambridge in the state legislature?
Cambridge is split among 2 House of Delegates districts, so your address decides. The Maryland Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 37 (Johnny Mautz). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cambridge’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 →