Town Hall · Canton

Canton, MA town hall & government

Canton spent $178.4 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $7,250 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Canton's government.

Town budget

Where Canton's money goes

Spent
$178.4 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$7,250
typical Massachusetts towns: $7,534
Long-term debt
$59.7 million
$2,428 per resident
Schools
$85 million48%
Sewer & trash
$11.7 million7%
Water & other utilities
$10.8 million6%
Fire
$9.3 million5%
Police
$8.5 million5%
Roads & transportation
$6.1 million3%
Administration & buildings
$5.7 million3%
Parks & libraries
$3.5 million2%
Paid to other governments
$2.4 million1%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$1.6 million1%
Interest on debt
$1.3 million1%
Health & welfare
$1.3 million1%
Other
$31.3 million18%

Canton runs its own schools, so school spending is part of its budget. Comparisons are with other Massachusetts towns.

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 61%
  • Interest, fines & other 12%
  • From the state 10%
  • Fees & charges 8%
  • Utility sales 7%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • Sales taxes 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
Town workforce

Who works for Canton

Full-time staff
555
245 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$98,700
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
47
and 29 full-time firefighters
Schools
328 full-time138 part
Police
48 full-time11 part
Health & welfare
40 full-time16 part
Parks & libraries
29 full-time10 part
Fire
30 full-time
Administration & buildings
19 full-time13 part
Roads & transportation
16 full-time
Water & other utilities
13 full-time
Sewer & trash
9 full-time
Housing & development
5 full-time1 part
Other
18 full-time56 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Canton School District

Canton's K–12 school district. The schools are run by Canton, so this money is part of the budget above.

Spending per pupil
$22,883
Massachusetts: $26,530
Students
3,277
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal

  • Local 72%
  • State 23%
  • Federal 4%

Of the $22,883 per pupil, $14,326 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Canton pay

Typical tax bill
$6,560
a year · Massachusetts typical $5,992
Effective rate
0.92%
of home value · Massachusetts 1.07%
Typical home value
$710,600
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Canton's government

Town hall & decisions in Canton →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Canton

Canton is represented in Congress by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey and Representative Stephen F. Lynch. Maura Healey is governor.

All of Canton's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Canton

Massachusetts · MA · Norfolk County
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