How is Harper Woods run?
Harper Woods’ city government spent $23.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,741 per resident.
What stands out about how Harper Woods is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
About $1,741 per resident a year, or $4.77 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
$1,741 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities
Harper Woods’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,741 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,901, and the middle half spent $1,414–$2,467. Harper Woods spent less than 54% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($5.9 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 →
Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Harper Woods itself left out).
No trend yet
Harper Woods reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $3,433 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.18% of the home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Harper Woods’ 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 Harper Woods’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Harper Woods →
Who’s in charge in Harper Woods
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Harper Woods’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on harperwoodscity.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 213 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 (13,651).
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.
Harper Woods City Schools
Harper Woods’ K–12 school district. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,108 per pupil, $10,907 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.
Michigan districts overall: 34% local, 57% state, 9% federal.
Grosse Pointe Public Schools · $18,562 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Harper Woods voted in 2024
Official results for Harper Woods’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat80.6%6,391 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican17.9%1,422 votesOthers: 1.4% (113 votes).
Most votes in Harper Woods: Kamala D Harris
Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7% · Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%
of Harper Woods’ 10,765 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Michigan: 74%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat80.1%
Mike RogersRepublican16.9%Most votes in Harper Woods: Elissa Slotkin
Wayne County: Slotkin 63.4%, Rogers 31.9% · Michigan: Slotkin 48.6%, Rogers 48.3%
Most votes in the district: Shri Thanedar
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Harper Woods, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harper Woods | 80.6% | 17.9% | 1.4% | 7,926 |
| Wayne County | 62.7% | 33.7% | 3.6% | 856,690 |
| Michigan | 48.3% | 49.7% | 2.0% | 5,664,186 |
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; Elissa Slotkin: U.S. House portrait (congress-legislators project); Mike Rogers: U.S. House portrait (congress-legislators project). 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 Harper Woods.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: harperwoodscity.org ↗
- 2Michigan HouseState representatives
- 3Michigan SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Michigan
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Harper Woods compares with the towns next door
Harper Woods spent $1,741 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,335 to $2,910. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Eastpointe | $1,335 | $2,583 |
| Grosse Pointe Woods | $2,016 | $6,220 |
| Detroit | $2,910 | $1,402 |
| Harper Woods | $1,741 | $3,433 |
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 Harper Woods’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Harper Woods’ government
How much does Harper Woods spend per resident?
About $1,741 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,741 was less than 54% of 44 Michigan cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Harper Woods?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,433 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.25% across Michigan. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see harperwoodscity.org.
Who runs Harper Woods’ government?
See harperwoodscity.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Harper Woods yet.
How did Harper Woods vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 80.6%, Donald J Trump 17.9% (7,926 votes, official results). Wayne County: Harris 62.7%, Trump 33.7%. Michigan: Trump 49.7%, Harris 48.3%.
How many people work for Harper Woods?
64 full-time and 39 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $474,619 (about $5.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Harper Woods in the state legislature?
State Senate District 12 (Kevin Hertel) and State House District 10 (Veronica Paiz). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Harper Woods’ 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 →