SNAPSHOT: COMMUNITY BUDGET PER PERSON, 2012
By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | June 21, 2012
Take the town budget and divide by the number of residents, and you get this chart. See where your town ranks. Summer communities -- with high warm weather populations but low permanent populations -- dominate the list. Wealthy communities, such as Weston, Lexington, and Cohasset are also ranked high. The data is from fiscal 2012.
The chart looks at town budgets divided by residents. Towns ranked at the top tend to be summer communities, whose seasonal populations swell during the warm months, but which basically
| Community | Budget per person, 2012 | Rank | Total budget, 2012 |
| ABINGTON | $2,936 | 216 | $46,934,186 |
| ACTON | $3,899 | 75 | $85,484,020 |
| ACUSHNET | $2,689 | 265 | $27,701,330 |
| ADAMS | $1,539 | 349 | $13,056,942 |
| AGAWAM | $2,954 | 212 | $84,000,551 |
| ALFORD | $2,873 | 226 | $1,419,388 |
| AMESBURY | $3,501 | 120 | $57,004,211 |
| AMHERST | $1,988 | 331 | $75,179,228 |
| ANDOVER | $4,350 | 50 | $144,409,829 |
| AQUINNAH | $12,006 | 2 | $3,733,738 |
| ARLINGTON | $3,163 | 176 | $135,505,943 |
| ASHBURNHAM | $2,472 | 284 | $15,029,838 |
| ASHBY | $1,971 | 334 | $6,058,980 |
| ASHFIELD | $2,309 | 304 | $4,009,914 |
| ASHLAND | $3,478 | 124 | $57,718,026 |
| ATHOL | $1,646 | 347 | $19,062,878 |
| ATTLEBORO | $2,845 | 235 | $124,042,889 |
| AUBURN | $3,127 | 178 | $50,612,494 |
| AVON | $5,020 | 31 | $21,865,180 |
| AYER | $3,597 | 108 | $26,712,735 |
| BARNSTABLE | $3,820 | 83 | $172,626,876 |
| BARRE | $1,852 | 339 | $9,995,948 |
| BECKET | $3,429 | 128 | $6,099,618 |
| BEDFORD | $5,799 | 21 | $77,236,238 |
| BELCHERTOWN | $3,097 | 184 | $45,363,743 |
| BELLINGHAM | $3,270 | 156 | $53,403,122 |
| BELMONT | $4,042 | 63 | $99,962,703 |
| BERKLEY | $2,735 | 256 | $17,534,907 |
| BERLIN | $3,818 | 85 | $10,941,017 |
| BERNARDSTON | $2,044 | 326 | $4,352,401 |
| BEVERLY | $2,969 | 209 | $117,267,968 |
| BILLERICA | $3,496 | 122 | $140,697,267 |
| BLACKSTONE | $2,326 | 302 | $20,993,783 |
| BLANDFORD | $2,842 | 237 | $3,504,540 |
| BOLTON | $4,006 | 64 | $19,618,800 |
| BOSTON | $3,947 | 71 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BOURNE | $3,266 | 157 | $64,518,741 |
| BOXBOROUGH | $4,148 | 59 | $20,724,915 |
| BOXFORD | $3,538 | 115 | $28,179,874 |
| BOYLSTON | $2,991 | 205 | $13,025,700 |
| BRAINTREE | $3,310 | 152 | $118,326,331 |
| BREWSTER | $4,128 | 60 | $40,537,968 |
| BRIDGEWATER | $1,971 | 333 | $52,364,336 |
| BRIMFIELD | $2,331 | 299 | $8,413,583 |
| BROCKTON | $3,732 | 95 | $350,118,273 |
| BROOKFIELD | $2,355 | 297 | $7,982,967 |
| BROOKLINE | $3,963 | 69 | $232,739,180 |
| BUCKLAND | $2,198 | 313 | $4,181,198 |
| BURLINGTON | $4,727 | 41 | $115,792,243 |
| CAMBRIDGE | $4,903 | 33 | $515,644,508 |
| CANTON | $3,940 | 72 | $84,957,444 |
| CARLISLE | $5,095 | 29 | $24,722,156 |
| CARVER | $3,008 | 202 | $34,620,095 |
| CHARLEMONT | $2,564 | 277 | $3,245,473 |
| CHARLTON | $1,943 | 335 | $25,221,554 |
| CHATHAM | $6,707 | 12 | $41,078,959 |
| CHELMSFORD | $3,395 | 135 | $114,768,879 |
| CHELSEA | $3,744 | 92 | $131,720,136 |
| CHESHIRE | $1,528 | 350 | $4,943,037 |
| CHESTER | $2,243 | 308 | $2,998,605 |
| CHESTERFIELD | $2,722 | 259 | $3,326,554 |
| CHICOPEE | $3,075 | 187 | $170,051,191 |
| CHILMARK | $9,913 | 6 | $8,584,995 |
| CLARKSBURG | $2,379 | 294 | $4,049,671 |
| CLINTON | $2,847 | 234 | $38,742,672 |
| COHASSET | $5,882 | 18 | $44,363,124 |
| COLRAIN | $2,128 | 318 | $3,555,165 |
| CONCORD | $4,746 | 39 | $83,856,408 |
| CONWAY | $2,881 | 223 | $5,466,108 |
| CUMMINGTON | $2,390 | 293 | $2,084,228 |
| DALTON | $2,148 | 316 | $14,509,060 |
| DANVERS | $3,725 | 96 | $98,677,030 |
| DARTMOUTH | $2,479 | 282 | $84,369,799 |
| DEDHAM | $3,963 | 68 | $98,002,126 |
| DEERFIELD | $2,658 | 268 | $13,621,991 |
| DENNIS | $3,566 | 111 | $50,657,911 |
| DIGHTON | $2,334 | 298 | $16,538,148 |
| DOUGLAS | $3,171 | 175 | $26,864,423 |
| DOVER | $5,578 | 23 | $31,176,914 |
| DRACUT | $2,599 | 274 | $76,553,880 |
| DUDLEY | $1,388 | 351 | $15,805,448 |
| DUNSTABLE | $2,545 | 279 | $8,089,467 |
| DUXBURY | $4,433 | 46 | $66,755,276 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | $3,221 | 165 | $44,424,397 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | $1,987 | 332 | $4,337,708 |
| EASTHAM | $4,680 | 42 | $23,193,944 |
| EASTHAMPTON | $2,371 | 295 | $38,068,095 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | $3,515 | 119 | $55,253,518 |
| EASTON | $3,051 | 192 | $70,514,890 |
| EDGARTOWN | $8,103 | 8 | $32,954,537 |
| EGREMONT | $3,372 | 143 | $4,130,628 |
| ERVING | $5,626 | 22 | $10,126,106 |
| ESSEX | $4,343 | 51 | $15,216,996 |
| EVERETT | $3,749 | 89 | $156,207,076 |
| FAIRHAVEN | $3,095 | 185 | $49,119,106 |
| FALL RIVER | $2,830 | 240 | $251,507,699 |
| FALMOUTH | $3,819 | 84 | $120,427,988 |
| FITCHBURG | $2,951 | 213 | $118,994,648 |
| FLORIDA | $4,052 | 62 | $3,046,844 |
| FOXBOROUGH | $3,748 | 91 | $63,205,053 |
| FRAMINGHAM | $3,705 | 98 | $253,095,954 |
| FRANKLIN | $3,403 | 134 | $107,668,120 |
| FREETOWN | $2,358 | 296 | $20,915,904 |
| GARDNER | $2,898 | 220 | $58,612,975 |
| GEORGETOWN | $3,323 | 149 | $27,188,579 |
| GILL | $1,931 | 336 | $2,896,300 |
| GLOUCESTER | $3,624 | 104 | $104,345,683 |
| GOSHEN | $2,680 | 267 | $2,825,079 |
| GOSNOLD | $18,464 | 1 | $1,384,779 |
| GRAFTON | $2,765 | 250 | $49,112,388 |
| GRANBY | $3,179 | 173 | $19,838,066 |
| GRANVILLE | $2,965 | 210 | $4,643,529 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | $3,385 | 138 | $24,045,234 |
| GREENFIELD | $3,065 | 188 | $53,500,721 |
| GROTON | $3,055 | 191 | $32,518,409 |
| GROVELAND | $2,219 | 311 | $14,334,420 |
| HADLEY | $3,121 | 181 | $16,384,319 |
| HALIFAX | $2,698 | 264 | $20,286,023 |
| HAMILTON | $3,454 | 126 | $26,815,296 |
| HAMPDEN | $2,216 | 312 | $11,386,513 |
| HANCOCK | $2,472 | 285 | $1,772,128 |
| HANOVER | $3,961 | 70 | $54,974,075 |
| HANSON | $2,026 | 328 | $20,683,177 |
| HARDWICK | $1,673 | 346 | $5,002,678 |
| HARVARD | $3,619 | 106 | $23,598,073 |
| HARWICH | $4,827 | 35 | $59,092,290 |
| HATFIELD | $3,047 | 193 | $9,991,883 |
| HAVERHILL | $2,843 | 236 | $173,072,067 |
| HAWLEY | $3,123 | 180 | $1,052,402 |
| HEATH | $2,864 | 229 | $2,022,071 |
| HINGHAM | $3,998 | 65 | $88,586,788 |
| HINSDALE | $2,330 | 300 | $4,734,450 |
| HOLBROOK | $3,196 | 168 | $34,487,937 |
| HOLDEN | $2,729 | 258 | $47,340,088 |
| HOLLAND | $2,580 | 275 | $6,401,683 |
| HOLLISTON | $4,170 | 58 | $56,487,308 |
| HOLYOKE | $3,642 | 101 | $145,254,482 |
| HOPEDALE | $3,837 | 81 | $22,682,840 |
| HOPKINTON | $4,434 | 45 | $66,179,397 |
| HUBBARDSTON | $1,797 | 341 | $7,876,634 |
| HUDSON | $3,534 | 116 | $67,373,845 |
| HULL | $3,606 | 107 | $37,113,652 |
| HUNTINGTON | $2,001 | 329 | $4,362,622 |
| IPSWICH | $3,480 | 123 | $45,852,452 |
| KINGSTON | $3,630 | 103 | $45,842,716 |
| LAKEVILLE | $2,043 | 327 | $21,663,282 |
| LANCASTER | $2,158 | 315 | $17,385,985 |
| LANESBOROUGH | $3,263 | 159 | $10,087,108 |
| LAWRENCE | $3,377 | 141 | $257,945,456 |
| LEE | $3,749 | 90 | $22,279,710 |
| LEICESTER | $2,429 | 289 | $26,643,152 |
| LENOX | $4,790 | 36 | $24,072,152 |
| LEOMINSTER | $3,045 | 195 | $124,111,551 |
| LEVERETT | $3,424 | 129 | $6,337,113 |
| LEXINGTON | $5,986 | 16 | $187,909,591 |
| LEYDEN | $2,304 | 305 | $1,638,128 |
| LINCOLN | $5,443 | 24 | $34,627,199 |
| LITTLETON | $4,334 | 53 | $38,674,675 |
| LONGMEADOW | $3,701 | 99 | $58,417,245 |
| LOWELL | $3,015 | 198 | $321,111,145 |
| LUDLOW | $2,763 | 251 | $58,299,022 |
| LUNENBURG | $2,938 | 214 | $29,631,259 |
| LYNN | $2,885 | 222 | $260,556,425 |
| LYNNFIELD | $3,740 | 93 | $43,364,145 |
| MALDEN | $2,852 | 232 | $169,542,572 |
| MANCHESTER | $5,153 | 26 | $26,466,302 |
| MANSFIELD | $3,678 | 100 | $85,265,692 |
| MARBLEHEAD | $3,875 | 76 | $76,752,907 |
| MARION | $4,840 | 34 | $23,748,149 |
| MARLBOROUGH | $3,444 | 127 | $132,607,452 |
| MARSHFIELD | $3,368 | 144 | $84,643,595 |
| MASHPEE | $3,861 | 77 | $54,080,834 |
| MATTAPOISETT | $4,342 | 52 | $26,245,159 |
| MAYNARD | $3,768 | 88 | $38,080,587 |
| MEDFIELD | $4,378 | 49 | $52,636,740 |
| MEDFORD | $2,623 | 272 | $147,344,257 |
| MEDWAY | $3,820 | 82 | $48,715,155 |
| MELROSE | $3,026 | 196 | $81,657,423 |
| MENDON | $2,576 | 276 | $15,039,554 |
| MERRIMAC | $2,436 | 288 | $15,440,050 |
| METHUEN | $2,866 | 228 | $135,428,563 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | $2,975 | 207 | $68,771,253 |
| MIDDLEFIELD | $2,641 | 270 | $1,375,785 |
| MIDDLETON | $3,010 | 200 | $27,051,043 |
| MILFORD | $3,004 | 203 | $84,107,985 |
| MILLBURY | $2,781 | 246 | $36,874,889 |
| MILLIS | $3,407 | 132 | $26,886,192 |
| MILLVILLE | $1,603 | 348 | $5,113,633 |
| MILTON | $3,392 | 137 | $91,600,313 |
| MONROE | $6,045 | 15 | $731,385 |
| MONSON | $2,964 | 211 | $25,374,127 |
| MONTAGUE | $2,272 | 307 | $19,171,784 |
| MONTEREY | $3,580 | 110 | $3,439,930 |
| MONTGOMERY | $2,320 | 303 | $1,944,577 |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | $7,135 | 10 | $1,191,620 |
| NAHANT | $3,554 | 112 | $12,117,778 |
| NANTUCKET | $10,640 | 4 | $108,229,933 |
| NATICK | $3,970 | 67 | $131,040,458 |
| NEEDHAM | $4,733 | 40 | $136,707,000 |
| NEW ASHFORD | $3,065 | 189 | $698,763 |
| NEW BEDFORD | $3,120 | 182 | $296,641,777 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | $2,107 | 321 | $2,104,727 |
| NEWBURY | $2,701 | 263 | $18,004,073 |
| NEWBURYPORT | $3,802 | 87 | $66,223,196 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | $3,013 | 199 | $4,546,424 |
| NEW SALEM | $2,606 | 273 | $2,579,859 |
| NEWTON | $4,247 | 55 | $361,603,797 |
| NORFOLK | $3,064 | 190 | $34,396,409 |
| NORTH ADAMS | $2,925 | 218 | $40,093,739 |
| NORTHAMPTON | $3,341 | 148 | $95,370,226 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | $3,192 | 169 | $90,488,873 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | $3,025 | 197 | $86,862,293 |
| NORTHBOROUGH | $3,713 | 97 | $52,558,749 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | $2,856 | 230 | $44,851,830 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | $2,989 | 206 | $13,990,635 |
| NORTHFIELD | $2,470 | 286 | $7,488,299 |
| NORTH READING | $3,848 | 79 | $57,300,687 |
| NORTON | $2,796 | 244 | $53,203,055 |
| NORWELL | $4,386 | 48 | $46,081,358 |
| NORWOOD | $5,399 | 25 | $154,414,440 |
| OAK BLUFFS | $6,073 | 14 | $27,494,628 |
| OAKHAM | $1,710 | 343 | $3,252,690 |
| ORANGE | $2,474 | 283 | $19,394,092 |
| ORLEANS | $5,054 | 30 | $29,768,954 |
| OTIS | $3,189 | 171 | $5,139,956 |
| OXFORD | $2,878 | 225 | $39,450,585 |
| PALMER | $2,640 | 271 | $32,047,765 |
| PAXTON | $2,425 | 290 | $11,653,864 |
| PEABODY | $2,937 | 215 | $150,520,557 |
| PELHAM | $3,940 | 73 | $5,204,210 |
| PEMBROKE | $3,186 | 172 | $56,827,292 |
| PEPPERELL | $2,114 | 320 | $24,300,042 |
| PERU | $2,300 | 306 | $1,948,004 |
| PETERSHAM | $3,124 | 179 | $3,855,166 |
| PHILLIPSTON | $2,097 | 323 | $3,527,089 |
| PITTSFIELD | $3,046 | 194 | $136,285,260 |
| PLAINFIELD | $2,485 | 281 | $1,610,028 |
| PLAINVILLE | $3,247 | 161 | $26,831,516 |
| PLYMOUTH | $3,290 | 155 | $185,753,002 |
| PLYMPTON | $2,895 | 221 | $8,164,178 |
| PRINCETON | $2,713 | 262 | $9,258,419 |
| PROVINCETOWN | $10,244 | 5 | $30,136,690 |
| QUINCY | $3,191 | 170 | $294,437,893 |
| RANDOLPH | $2,750 | 254 | $88,304,632 |
| RAYNHAM | $2,771 | 248 | $37,088,953 |
| READING | $3,587 | 109 | $88,769,086 |
| REHOBOTH | $1,873 | 337 | $21,737,489 |
| REVERE | $2,841 | 238 | $147,037,351 |
| RICHMOND | $3,914 | 74 | $5,773,474 |
| ROCHESTER | $3,466 | 125 | $18,135,736 |
| ROCKLAND | $2,898 | 219 | $50,684,439 |
| ROCKPORT | $4,240 | 56 | $29,478,496 |
| ROWE | $10,807 | 3 | $4,247,215 |
| ROWLEY | $2,682 | 266 | $15,703,641 |
| ROYALSTON | $1,690 | 344 | $2,125,735 |
| RUSSELL | $2,792 | 245 | $4,955,906 |
| RUTLAND | $2,221 | 310 | $17,705,321 |
| SALEM | $3,228 | 163 | $133,463,816 |
| SALISBURY | $2,869 | 227 | $23,762,122 |
| SANDISFIELD | $3,394 | 136 | $3,105,778 |
| SANDWICH | $3,382 | 140 | $69,914,188 |
| SAUGUS | $2,969 | 208 | $79,049,827 |
| SAVOY | $2,992 | 204 | $2,070,304 |
| SCITUATE | $3,981 | 66 | $72,181,467 |
| SEEKONK | $3,346 | 146 | $45,915,599 |
| SHARON | $4,084 | 61 | $71,927,849 |
| SHEFFIELD | $2,850 | 233 | $9,282,680 |
| SHELBURNE | $2,099 | 322 | $3,972,955 |
| SHERBORN | $5,871 | 19 | $24,181,857 |
| SHIRLEY | $1,849 | 340 | $13,334,183 |
| SHREWSBURY | $2,931 | 217 | $104,377,204 |
| SHUTESBURY | $3,358 | 145 | $5,947,316 |
| SOMERSET | $3,420 | 130 | $62,120,410 |
| SOMERVILLE | $2,838 | 239 | $215,010,417 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | $2,813 | 242 | $16,292,440 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | $4,781 | 37 | $46,692,402 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | $3,198 | 167 | $53,471,097 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | $2,439 | 287 | $42,711,520 |
| SOUTHWICK | $2,237 | 309 | $21,256,843 |
| SPENCER | $1,682 | 345 | $19,655,535 |
| SPRINGFIELD | $3,840 | 80 | $587,699,525 |
| STERLING | $2,762 | 252 | $21,568,114 |
| STOCKBRIDGE | $4,651 | 43 | $9,055,339 |
| STONEHAM | $3,118 | 183 | $66,836,319 |
| STOUGHTON | $3,314 | 151 | $89,361,980 |
| STOW | $3,621 | 105 | $23,864,503 |
| STURBRIDGE | $3,384 | 139 | $31,361,970 |
| SUDBURY | $4,765 | 38 | $84,143,828 |
| SUNDERLAND | $2,045 | 325 | $7,535,195 |
| SUTTON | $3,156 | 177 | $28,289,453 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | $4,221 | 57 | $58,201,105 |
| SWANSEA | $2,329 | 301 | $36,946,873 |
| TAUNTON | $3,225 | 164 | $180,166,148 |
| TEMPLETON | $1,859 | 338 | $14,892,497 |
| TEWKSBURY | $3,499 | 121 | $101,340,016 |
| TISBURY | $6,575 | 13 | $25,965,953 |
| TOLLAND | $2,797 | 243 | $1,356,576 |
| TOPSFIELD | $3,855 | 78 | $23,457,518 |
| TOWNSEND | $2,073 | 324 | $18,500,591 |
| TRURO | $8,554 | 7 | $17,133,154 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | $3,178 | 174 | $35,883,474 |
| TYRINGHAM | $4,273 | 54 | $1,397,349 |
| UPTON | $2,739 | 255 | $20,658,129 |
| UXBRIDGE | $3,080 | 186 | $41,452,372 |
| WAKEFIELD | $3,245 | 162 | $80,895,683 |
| WALES | $2,167 | 314 | $3,982,106 |
| WALPOLE | $3,344 | 147 | $80,495,651 |
| WALTHAM | $3,642 | 102 | $220,823,508 |
| WARE | $2,826 | 241 | $27,898,516 |
| WAREHAM | $2,778 | 247 | $60,624,438 |
| WARREN | $1,715 | 342 | $8,806,623 |
| WARWICK | $2,557 | 278 | $1,994,548 |
| WASHINGTON | $2,536 | 280 | $1,364,216 |
| WATERTOWN | $3,539 | 114 | $112,953,942 |
| WAYLAND | $5,814 | 20 | $75,546,931 |
| WEBSTER | $2,401 | 292 | $40,257,044 |
| WELLESLEY | $5,126 | 28 | $143,434,060 |
| WELLFLEET | $6,847 | 11 | $18,829,476 |
| WENDELL | $3,205 | 166 | $2,717,734 |
| WENHAM | $3,264 | 158 | $15,910,791 |
| WESTBOROUGH | $5,127 | 27 | $93,689,488 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | $3,374 | 142 | $25,875,250 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | $3,816 | 86 | $26,392,505 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | $1,997 | 330 | $7,390,915 |
| WESTFIELD | $3,252 | 160 | $133,624,847 |
| WESTFORD | $4,428 | 47 | $97,191,299 |
| WESTHAMPTON | $2,879 | 224 | $4,626,350 |
| WESTMINSTER | $3,009 | 201 | $21,895,256 |
| WEST NEWBURY | $3,406 | 133 | $14,424,229 |
| WESTON | $7,697 | 9 | $86,677,292 |
| WESTPORT | $2,127 | 319 | $33,032,644 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | $3,409 | 131 | $96,793,375 |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE | $3,734 | 94 | $4,876,571 |
| WEST TISBURY | $5,904 | 17 | $16,177,225 |
| WESTWOOD | $4,946 | 32 | $72,296,696 |
| WEYMOUTH | $2,852 | 231 | $153,301,759 |
| WHATELY | $3,542 | 113 | $5,298,583 |
| WHITMAN | $2,143 | 317 | $31,056,113 |
| WILBRAHAM | $2,720 | 261 | $38,673,593 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | $2,731 | 257 | $6,778,370 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | $2,770 | 249 | $21,475,358 |
| WILMINGTON | $3,525 | 117 | $78,686,531 |
| WINCHENDON | $2,753 | 253 | $28,359,222 |
| WINCHESTER | $4,486 | 44 | $95,889,752 |
| WINDSOR | $2,408 | 291 | $2,164,412 |
| WINTHROP | $2,642 | 269 | $46,218,345 |
| WOBURN | $3,520 | 118 | $134,177,972 |
| WORCESTER | $3,295 | 154 | $596,606,133 |
| WORTHINGTON | $2,722 | 260 | $3,146,172 |
| WRENTHAM | $3,318 | 150 | $36,345,276 |
| YARMOUTH | $3,301 | 153 | $78,546,624 |