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Government budget and revenue in Medford, Massachusetts: official figures

Medford's city government took in $242.72 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, or $3,989 for each of its 60,847 residents (2022 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 142nd highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

City government revenue per resident
$3,989
2022
City government spending per resident
$3,870
2022
City long-term debt per resident
$1,148
2022

How much does Medford spend and on what?

It spent $235.48 million in the same year, $3,870 per resident, the 142nd highest of 731 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (45.2%), the water utility (9.9%) and police (6.0%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Medford collect per resident?

Taxes raised $140.21 million ($2,304 per resident, the 52nd highest of 731) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 64.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Medford rely on?

Of Medford's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, property tax made up 95.9%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.7%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Medford's property tax share is the 51st highest of 730 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2022 Census of Governments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Medford get?

Payments from other governments made up 31.9% of Medford's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022: 14.9% from the federal government ($530 per resident), 17.0% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Medford raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $2.81 million, 1.3% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $26.18 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Medford spend on police?

Medford's city government spent $14.08 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, $231 per resident (the 151st lowest of 731) and 6.0% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Medford spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $14.02 million, $230 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Medford city government run the schools?

Medford's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $106.55 million, 45.2% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Medford have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Medford's city government owed $69.84 million in long-term debt, $1,148 per resident (the 221st lowest of 731). During the year it issued $1.22 million of new long-term debt and repaid $3.94 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Medford pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.52 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, 1.1% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the latest budget data for Medford?

The Census Bureau imputed 100% of the revenue dollars in Medford's 2024 record, so these facts use the 2022 Census of Governments, for which the city reported its figures.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Medford compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 142 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
139Richland$4,021
140San Antonio$4,008
141Marietta$3,996
142Medford$3,989
143Santa Cruz$3,987
144Portland$3,985
145Tallahassee$3,980
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 142 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
139South San Francisco$3,907
140Rocky Mount$3,893
141Syracuse$3,881
142Medford$3,870
143Detroit$3,853
144Methuen$3,853
145Kingsport$3,811
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 52 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
49Chesapeake$2,355
50Cranston$2,351
51Broomfield$2,329
52Medford$2,304
53Norfolk$2,266
54Chicago$2,250
55Palo Alto$2,247
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 581 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
578San Marcos$232
579Citrus Heights$232
580Marysville$231
581Medford$231
582Rio Rancho$231
583Columbia$231
584Holly Springs$230
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 511 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
508Auburn$1,168
509Vista$1,160
510Henderson$1,158
511Medford$1,148
512Burnsville$1,135
513Blaine$1,134
514Wheaton$1,132
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 51 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
48Worcester96.0%
49Warwick96.0%
50West New York96.0%
51Medford95.9%
52Chicopee95.9%
53Providence95.9%
54Hoboken95.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Medford ranks 135 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
132Lauderhill32.0%
133Wyoming31.9%
134Fayetteville31.9%
135Medford31.9%
136Oshkosh31.7%
137Joliet31.7%
138Lafayette31.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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