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.
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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyDoes 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 copyHow 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 copyHow 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 copyWhat 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 copyHow 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | Richland | $4,021 |
| 140 | San Antonio | $4,008 |
| 141 | Marietta | $3,996 |
| 142 | Medford | $3,989 |
| 143 | Santa Cruz | $3,987 |
| 144 | Portland | $3,985 |
| 145 | Tallahassee | $3,980 |
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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | South San Francisco | $3,907 |
| 140 | Rocky Mount | $3,893 |
| 141 | Syracuse | $3,881 |
| 142 | Medford | $3,870 |
| 143 | Detroit | $3,853 |
| 144 | Methuen | $3,853 |
| 145 | Kingsport | $3,811 |
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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Chesapeake | $2,355 |
| 50 | Cranston | $2,351 |
| 51 | Broomfield | $2,329 |
| 52 | Medford | $2,304 |
| 53 | Norfolk | $2,266 |
| 54 | Chicago | $2,250 |
| 55 | Palo Alto | $2,247 |
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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 578 | San Marcos | $232 |
| 579 | Citrus Heights | $232 |
| 580 | Marysville | $231 |
| 581 | Medford | $231 |
| 582 | Rio Rancho | $231 |
| 583 | Columbia | $231 |
| 584 | Holly Springs | $230 |
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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 508 | Auburn | $1,168 |
| 509 | Vista | $1,160 |
| 510 | Henderson | $1,158 |
| 511 | Medford | $1,148 |
| 512 | Burnsville | $1,135 |
| 513 | Blaine | $1,134 |
| 514 | Wheaton | $1,132 |
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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Worcester | 96.0% |
| 49 | Warwick | 96.0% |
| 50 | West New York | 96.0% |
| 51 | Medford | 95.9% |
| 52 | Chicopee | 95.9% |
| 53 | Providence | 95.9% |
| 54 | Hoboken | 95.8% |
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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Lauderhill | 32.0% |
| 133 | Wyoming | 31.9% |
| 134 | Fayetteville | 31.9% |
| 135 | Medford | 31.9% |
| 136 | Oshkosh | 31.7% |
| 137 | Joliet | 31.7% |
| 138 | Lafayette | 31.7% |
More on Medford: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.