Photo: Dadadata · Public domainCape Charles spent more per resident in 2022 than 95% of similar cities
Cape Charles’ town government spent $2.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,673 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($583,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Cape Charles is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$2,673 per resident in 2022: more than 95% of them
Cape Charles’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,673 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 76 Virginia cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $516, and the middle half spent $292–$1,363. Cape Charles spent more than 95% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($802,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Virginia cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Cape Charles itself left out).
About $2,673 per resident a year, or $7.32 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 49%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Cape Charles reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,118 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Cape Charles’ 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 Cape Charles’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Cape Charles →
Who’s in charge in Cape Charles
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Cape Charles’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on capecharles.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 31 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 (1,056).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Northampton County Public Schools
Cape Charles’ K–12 school district, shared with Cheriton, Eastville, Exmore, Nassawadox. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $18,044 per pupil, $9,211 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.
Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Cape Charles’ votes are counted by county
Virginia reports official results by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Cape Charles alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Northampton County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat52.6%3,603 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican46.4%3,183 votesOthers: 1.0% (70 votes).
Most votes in Northampton County: Kamala D Harris
Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%
100% of Cape Charles lies in Northampton County. Every 2024 race in Northampton County is on the county’s page.
Northampton 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 Cape Charles.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: capecharles.org ↗
- 2Virginia House of DelegatesState representatives
- 3Virginia SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Cape Charles’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Cape Charles’ government
How much does Cape Charles spend per resident?
About $2,673 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 $2,673 was more than 95% of 76 Virginia cities of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Cape Charles?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,118 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see capecharles.org.
Who runs Cape Charles’ government?
See capecharles.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Cape Charles yet.
How did Cape Charles vote in 2024?
Virginia counts votes by county and precinct, not by town, so there are no official results for Cape Charles alone. Northampton County, where 100% of Cape Charles lies, voted Harris 52.6%, Trump 46.4% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Cape Charles?
34 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $143,846 (about $1.7M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Cape Charles in the state legislature?
State Senate District 20 (Bill DeSteph) and House of Delegates District 100 (Rob Bloxom). The House of Delegates district also covers 19 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Cape Charles’ 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 →