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Creswell Historic DistrictCreswell Historic District · Photo: Gregbarnes at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Town Hall · Creswell

Creswell spent more per resident in 2022 than 65% of similar cities

Creswell’s town government spent $253,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,091 per resident. Water and other utilities ($233,000) are counted separately.

Election Day

Today

General election in North Carolina.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$253,000
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,091
In 2022: $1,091, more than 65% of 221 similar cities
Long-term debt
$170,000
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
3
full-time · 7 part-time · March payroll $12,347
Typical tax bill
$1,278
1.09% of home value · NC 0.66%

What stands out about how Creswell is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,091 per resident, more than 65% of 221 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer70% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Washington County Schools with 2 other towns.Low bills, a higher rateThe typical bill is $1,278 a year: 1.09% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.
Compared with similar places

$1,091 per resident in 2022: more than 65% of them

Creswell’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,091 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $800, and the middle half spent $425–$1,365. Creswell spent more than 65% of them.

Middle half of the group, $425–$1,365Median $800Creswell

Includes sewer and trash ($106,000), 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
221

North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Creswell itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,091 per resident a year, or $2.99 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 42%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 40%Utility sales 24%Property taxes 15%From the state 13%Sales taxes 8%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $4,000; interest on debt $7,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $497,000.
About “Other”.46% of Creswell’s day-to-day spending ($116,000) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Creswell reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,278 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.09% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

North Carolina$1,896
Creswell$1,278
$1,278
typical bill a year
1.09%
effective rate
$117,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Creswell’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. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Creswell’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Creswell →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Creswell

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

Check Creswell’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Creswell yet.
Who works for Creswell

One full-time town employee for every 77 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 (232).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 6 pt
Sewer & trash1
Water & other utilities1
Roads & transportation0 + 1 pt
3
full-time
7
part-time
$12,347
payroll for March 2022
$148,164
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$41,000
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Creswell had 12.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 196 of the 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.0: Creswell had more than 73% 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

Washington County Schools

Creswell’s K–12 school district, shared with Plymouth, Roper. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Creswell →
$18,423
per pupil · NC $13,045
1,058
students
$19.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,423 per pupil, $9,233 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 13%State 63%Federal 24%

North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Creswell’s votes are counted by county

North Carolina reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Creswell alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Washington County’s results.

President · Washington County’s results5,944 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat52.8%3,138 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican46.6%2,768 votes

Others: 0.6% (38 votes).

Most votes in Washington County: Kamala D Harris

North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%

The county’s page

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

Washington 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 Creswell

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Creswell.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    North Carolina HouseState representatives
    Ed Goodwin
  3. 3
    North Carolina SenateState senator
    Norman Sanderson
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Josh Stein
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Donald G. Davis
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina
    Thom TillisTed Budd

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

Reach Creswell’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Creswell’s government

How much does Creswell spend per resident?

About $1,091 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,091 was more than 65% of 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Creswell?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,278 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.09% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Creswell’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Creswell yet.

How did Creswell vote in 2024?

North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Creswell alone. Washington County, where 100% of Creswell lies, voted Harris 52.8%, Trump 46.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Creswell?

3 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $12,347 (about $148,164 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Creswell in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Norman Sanderson) and State House District 1 (Ed Goodwin). The House district also covers nine other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Creswell’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 →