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Town Hall · Adamstown

Adamstown spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Adamstown’s borough government spent $1.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $839 per resident. Water and other utilities ($132,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$1.6M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$839
In 2022: $839, more than 82% of 574 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
5
full-time · 2 part-time · March payroll $29,906
Typical tax bill
$4,408
1.58% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Adamstown is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$839 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Adamstown’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($839 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $483, and the middle half spent $300–$724. Adamstown spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $300–$724Median $483Adamstown

Includes sewer and trash ($323,000), 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
574

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

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $839 per resident a year, or $2.30 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 35%Property taxes 15%Income taxes 14%Utility sales 12%Other taxes & licenses 8%From the federal government 6%Interest, fines & other 6%From the state 4%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $210,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.9 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

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

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,408 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.58% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

East Cocalico Township$4,840
Swartzville$4,537
Adamstown$4,408
Brecknock Township$3,524
Pennsylvania$3,311
$4,408
typical bill a year
1.58%
effective rate
$278,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Adamstown’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 Adamstown’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Adamstown →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Adamstown

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

See co.lancaster.pa.us/adamstown_boro/site/default.asp for Adamstown’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Adamstown yet.co.lancaster.pa.us/adamstown_boro/site/default.asp ↗
Agendas

Adamstown’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on co.lancaster.pa.us/adamstown_boro/site/default.asp ↗.

Who works for Adamstown

One full-time borough employee for every 381 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 (1,905).

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

Administration & buildings1 + 1 pt
Schools0 + 1 pt
Other4
5
full-time
2
part-time
$29,906
payroll for March 2022
$358,872
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$68,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Adamstown had 2.6 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 379 of the 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 1.0: Adamstown had more than 72% 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

Cocalico School District

Adamstown’s K–12 school district, shared with Denver, East Cocalico Township, West Cocalico Township. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Adamstown →
$19,963
per pupil · PA $21,758
2,898
students
$42.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,963 per pupil, $12,135 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 67%State 29%Federal 4%

Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

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

Elections · 2024 general election

Adamstown’s votes are counted by county

Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Adamstown alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Lancaster County’s results.

President · Lancaster County’s results289,257 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican57.5%166,261 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.5%120,119 votes

Others: 1.0% (2,877 votes).

Most votes in Lancaster County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

99% of Adamstown lies in Lancaster County; the rest in Berks County. Every 2024 race in Lancaster County is on the county’s page.

Lancaster 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 Adamstown

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Adamstown.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseSplit between districts
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania

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

Next door

How Adamstown compares with the towns next door

Adamstown spent $839 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $572. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
East Cocalico Township$572$4,840
Brecknock Townshipestimate$3,524
Adamstown$839$4,408

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 Adamstown’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Adamstown’s government

How much does Adamstown spend per resident?

About $839 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 $839 was more than 82% of 574 Pennsylvania cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Adamstown?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,408 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see co.lancaster.pa.us/adamstown_boro/site/default.asp.

Who runs Adamstown’s government?

See co.lancaster.pa.us/adamstown_boro/site/default.asp for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Adamstown yet.

How did Adamstown vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Adamstown alone. Lancaster County, where 99% of Adamstown lies, voted Trump 57.5%, Harris 41.5% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Adamstown?

5 full-time and 2 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $29,906 (about $358,872 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Adamstown in the state legislature?

Adamstown is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Pennsylvania Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Adamstown’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 →