Photo: MVASCO · CC BY-SA 3.0Newport spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities
Newport’s city government spent $135 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, about $5,366 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($9.8 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Newport is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$5,376 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them
Newport’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,376 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $3,858, and the middle half spent $3,450–$4,474. Newport spent more than 87% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($10.3 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 →
U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Newport itself left out).
About $5,366 per resident a year, or $14.70 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 42% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Newport runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is up 3% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Newport 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: $5,376 · 2023: $5,366.
full-time in March 2025, up from 659 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 $5,264 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.70% of the home’s value, vs 1.21% across Rhode Island.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Newport’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 Newport’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Newport →
Who’s in charge in Newport
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Newport’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofnewport.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 31 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (25,156).
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.
Newport School District
Newport’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Newport, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $28,912 per pupil, $17,371 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.
Rhode Island districts overall: 48% local, 40% state, 13% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Newport voted in 2024
Official results for Newport’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat69.9%7,102 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican27.4%2,784 votesOthers: 2.7% (274 votes).
Most votes in Newport: Kamala D Harris
Newport County: Harris 61.3%, Trump 35.9% · Rhode Island: Harris 55.6%, Trump 41.8%
of Newport’s 20,719 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Rhode Island: 62%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Newport: Sheldon Whitehouse
Newport County: Whitehouse 63.2%, Morgan 36.7% · Rhode Island: Whitehouse 59.9%, Morgan 39.8%
Most votes in the district: Gabriel Amo
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Newport, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | 69.9% | 27.4% | 2.7% | 10,160 |
| Newport County | 61.3% | 35.9% | 2.8% | 44,618 |
| Rhode Island | 55.6% | 41.8% | 2.6% | 513,086 |
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 Newport.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofnewport.com ↗
- 2Rhode Island HouseNewport is split between 2 districts
- 3Rhode Island SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Rhode Island
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Newport compares with the towns next door
Newport spent $5,376 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Middletown | $4,912 runs schools | $6,153 |
| Jamestown | $4,975 runs schools | $5,047 |
| Newport | $5,376 | $5,264 |
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 Newport’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Newport’s government
How much does Newport spend per resident?
About $5,366 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,376 was more than 87% of 30 U.S. cities of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Newport?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,264 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.70% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.21% across Rhode Island. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofnewport.com.
Who runs Newport’s government?
See cityofnewport.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Newport yet.
How did Newport vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 69.9%, Donald J Trump 27.4% (10,160 votes, official results). Newport County: Harris 61.3%, Trump 35.9%. Rhode Island: Harris 55.6%, Trump 41.8%.
How many people work for Newport?
799 full-time and 128 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $5.7M (about $68.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Newport in the state legislature?
Newport is split among 2 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Rhode Island Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Newport’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 →