Photo: APK · CC BY 4.0Martinsburg spent more per resident in 2022 than 74% of similar cities
Martinsburg’s city government spent $32.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,879 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($3.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Martinsburg is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,879 per resident in 2022: more than 74% of them
Martinsburg’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,879 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 23 West Virginia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,295, and the middle half spent $1,044–$1,860. Martinsburg spent more than 74% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4.6 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 →
West Virginia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Martinsburg itself left out).
About $1,879 per resident a year, or $5.15 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 18%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Martinsburg reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2023, 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet.
full-time in March 2025, up from 191 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
The typical homeowner pays $1,529 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.64% of the home’s value, vs 0.53% across West Virginia.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Martinsburg’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 Martinsburg’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Martinsburg →
Who’s in charge in Martinsburg
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Martinsburg’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofmartinsburg.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 88 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (17,514).
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.
Berkeley County School District
Martinsburg’s K–12 school district, shared with Hedgesville. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,067 per pupil, $7,869 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.
West Virginia districts overall: 36% local, 46% state, 18% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Martinsburg’s votes are counted by county
West Virginia reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Martinsburg alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Berkeley County’s results.
Donald J TrumpRepublican67.0%37,580 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat31.2%17,500 votesOthers: 1.8% (1,022 votes).
Most votes in Berkeley County: Donald J Trump
West Virginia: Trump 70.0%, Harris 28.1%
100% of Martinsburg lies in Berkeley County. Every 2024 race in Berkeley County is on the county’s page.
Berkeley 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
Martinsburg sends 4 representatives to the West Virginia House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofmartinsburg.org ↗
- 2West Virginia House of DelegatesMartinsburg is split between 4 districts
- 3West Virginia SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of West Virginia
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Martinsburg’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Martinsburg’s government
How much does Martinsburg spend per resident?
About $1,879 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 $1,879 was more than 74% of 23 West Virginia cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Martinsburg?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,529 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.64% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.53% across West Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmartinsburg.org.
Who runs Martinsburg’s government?
See cityofmartinsburg.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Martinsburg yet.
How did Martinsburg vote in 2024?
West Virginia counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Martinsburg alone. Berkeley County, where 100% of Martinsburg lies, voted Trump 67.0%, Harris 31.2% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Martinsburg?
200 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.5M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Martinsburg in the state legislature?
Martinsburg is split among 4 House of Delegates districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The West Virginia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Martinsburg’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 →