Photo: Rapidfire · CC BY-SA 3.0Cape Elizabeth spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar towns
Cape Elizabeth’s town government spent $54.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,674 per resident.
What stands out about how Cape Elizabeth is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$5,021 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them
Cape Elizabeth’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,021 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 45 Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools: the median was $3,230, and the middle half spent $2,479–$3,782. Cape Elizabeth spent more than 87% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.5 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 →
Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cape Elizabeth itself left out).
About $5,674 per resident a year, or $15.55 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 67% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Cape Elizabeth runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 16% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Cape Elizabeth 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: $5,021 · 2024: $5,674.
full-time in March 2025, down from 348 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $7,637 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.04% of the home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cape Elizabeth’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 Cape Elizabeth’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cape Elizabeth →
Who’s in charge in Cape Elizabeth
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 28 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (9,580).
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.
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Cape Elizabeth, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $23,752 per pupil, $14,068 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.
Maine districts overall: 52% local, 40% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Cape Elizabeth voted in 2024
Official results for Cape Elizabeth’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat77.6%5,289 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican20.5%1,395 votesOthers: 1.9% (129 votes).
Most votes in Cape Elizabeth: Kamala D Harris
Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%
of Cape Elizabeth’s 6,949 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Maine: 75%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Cape Elizabeth: Angus S King Jr
Maine: Jr 52.1%, Kouzounas 34.6%
President, 2024: Cape Elizabeth, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Elizabeth | 77.6% | 20.5% | 1.9% | 6,813 |
| Maine | 52.4% | 45.5% | 2.1% | 831,375 |
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 Cape Elizabeth.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2Maine HouseCape Elizabeth is split between 2 districts
- 3Maine SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Maine
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Cape Elizabeth compares with the towns next door
Cape Elizabeth spent $5,021 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are cities, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar towns, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| South Portland | $3,355 runs schools | $4,359 |
| Portland | $4,614 runs schools | $5,601 |
| Scarborough | $4,649 runs schools | $5,978 |
| Cape Elizabeth | $5,021 | $7,637 |
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 Cape Elizabeth’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Cape Elizabeth’s government
How much does Cape Elizabeth spend per resident?
About $5,674 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 $5,021 was more than 87% of 45 Maine towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cape Elizabeth?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,637 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.04% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.02% across Maine. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.
Who runs Cape Elizabeth’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cape Elizabeth yet.
How did Cape Elizabeth vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 77.6%, Donald J Trump 20.5% (6,813 votes, official results). . Maine: Harris 52.4%, Trump 45.5%.
How many people work for Cape Elizabeth?
338 full-time and 193 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.6M (about $30.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Cape Elizabeth in the state legislature?
Cape Elizabeth is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Maine Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 29 (Anne Carney). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cape Elizabeth’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 →