Watha spent less per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar cities
Watha’s town government spent $77,000 on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $312 per resident.
What stands out about how Watha is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$312 per resident in 2022: less than 84% of them
Watha’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($312 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 $803, and the middle half spent $435–$1,365. Watha spent less than 84% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Watha itself left out).
About $312 per resident a year, or $0.85 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 96%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Watha reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $750 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.52% of the home’s value, vs 0.66% across North Carolina.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Watha’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 Watha’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Watha →
Who’s in charge in Watha
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Pender County Schools
Watha’s K–12 school district, shared with Atkinson, Burgaw, St. Helena, Topsail Beach, Surf City. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $12,360 per pupil, $7,846 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.
North Carolina districts overall: 26% local, 57% state, 17% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Watha’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 Watha alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Pender County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican66.9%26,042 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat32.0%12,460 votesOthers: 1.0% (407 votes).
Most votes in Pender County: Donald J Trump
North Carolina: Trump 50.9%, Harris 47.6%
100% of Watha lies in Pender County. Every 2024 race in Pender County is on the county’s page.
Pender 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 Watha.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2North Carolina HouseState representatives
- 3North Carolina SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of North Carolina
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Watha’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Watha’s government
How much does Watha spend per resident?
About $312 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 $312 was less than 84% of 221 North Carolina cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Watha?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $750 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.52% 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 Watha’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Watha yet.
How did Watha vote in 2024?
North Carolina counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Watha alone. Pender County, where 100% of Watha lies, voted Trump 66.9%, Harris 32.0% for president; its page has every race.
Who represents Watha in the state legislature?
State Senate District 9 (Brent Jackson) and State House District 16 (Carson Smith). The House district also covers eight other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Watha’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 →