Photo: Aaron Jacobs on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5Denton spent more per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities
Denton’s city government spent $254.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $1,693 per resident. Water and other utilities ($339.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Denton is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,343 per resident in 2022: more than 69% of them
Denton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,343 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,118, and the middle half spent $905–$1,364. Denton spent more than 69% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($47.5 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 →
Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Denton itself left out).
About $1,693 per resident a year, or $4.64 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 22%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 28% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Denton 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: $1,343 · 2023: $1,636 · 2024: $1,693.
full-time in March 2025, up from 1,507 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 $5,493 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.58% of the home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Denton’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 Denton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Denton →
Who’s in charge in Denton
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Denton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofdenton.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 87 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (150,353).
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.
Denton Independent School District
Denton’s K–12 school district, shared with Shady Shores, Cross Roads, Corinth, Bartonville, Copper Canyon and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $11,854 per pupil, $7,001 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.
Texas districts overall: 51% local, 36% state, 13% federal.
Krum Independent School District · $11,032 per pupil
Ponder Independent School District · $11,624 per pupil
Sanger Independent School District · $15,205 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Denton’s votes are counted by county
Texas reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Denton alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Denton County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican55.8%250,521 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat42.6%191,503 votesOthers: 1.6% (7,164 votes).
Most votes in Denton County: Donald J Trump
Texas: Trump 56.1%, Harris 42.5%
100% of Denton lies in Denton County. Every 2024 race in Denton County is on the county’s page.
Denton 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 Denton.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofdenton.com ↗
- 2Texas HouseDenton is split between 3 districts
- 3Texas SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Texas
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Denton compares with the towns next door
No neighbor is close in size, so the comparison above uses Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Shady Shores | $653 | $7,311 |
| Krum | $1,102 | $5,363 |
| Argyle | $1,106 | $10,000+ |
| Northlake | $2,286 | $10,000+ |
| Corinth | estimate | $6,308 |
| Denton | $1,343 | $5,493 |
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 Denton’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Denton’s government
How much does Denton spend per resident?
About $1,693 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,343 was more than 69% of 16 Texas cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Denton?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,493 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.58% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.49% across Texas. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofdenton.com.
Who runs Denton’s government?
See cityofdenton.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Denton yet.
How did Denton vote in 2024?
Texas counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Denton alone. Denton County, where 100% of Denton lies, voted Trump 55.8%, Harris 42.6% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Denton?
1,722 full-time and 268 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $15.1M (about $181.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Denton in the state legislature?
Denton is split among 3 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Texas Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Denton’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 →