snapshot: Fire department spending, 2012
By Matt Carroll, Globe Staff | Oct. 17, 2013
Fire departments in eastern Mass. tend to eat up a larger percent of spending than in the central and western parts of the state. The data shows the percent of money spent from comunities' general expenditures. The data is for fiscal 2012.
| Community | Fire Department percent spending of general expenditures, 2012 | Rank |
| ABINGTON | 4.59 | 134 |
| ACTON | 3.3 | 179 |
| ACUSHNET | 1.79 | 241 |
| ADAMS | 0.05 | 325 |
| AGAWAM | 4.67 | 126 |
| ALFORD | 2.14 | 221 |
| AMESBURY | 5.44 | 92 |
| AMHERST | 6.15 | 64 |
| ANDOVER | 5.68 | 81 |
| ARLINGTON | 5.72 | 80 |
| ASHBURNHAM | 4.05 | 155 |
| ASHBY | 2.79 | 195 |
| ASHFIELD | 1.54 | 252 |
| ASHLAND | 4.63 | 130 |
| ATHOL | 11.07 | 1 |
| ATTLEBORO | 6.48 | 47 |
| AUBURN | 5.49 | 90 |
| AVON | 6.67 | 41 |
| AYER | 6.37 | 52 |
| BARNSTABLE | na | na |
| BARRE | 2.1 | 223 |
| BECKET | 0.79 | 309 |
| BEDFORD | 3.29 | 180 |
| BELCHERTOWN | 0.98 | 299 |
| BELLINGHAM | 4.4 | 142 |
| BELMONT | 6.19 | 60 |
| BERKLEY | 0.86 | 305 |
| BERLIN | 2.32 | 214 |
| BERNARDSTON | 2.1 | 223 |
| BEVERLY | 6.73 | 39 |
| BILLERICA | 5.85 | 76 |
| BLACKSTONE | 5.84 | 77 |
| BLANDFORD | 0.99 | 297 |
| BOLTON | 0.65 | 317 |
| BOSTON | 8.19 | 12 |
| BOURNE | 6.64 | 42 |
| BOXBOROUGH | 3.94 | 162 |
| BOXFORD | 1.75 | 244 |
| BOYLSTON | 2.4 | 209 |
| BRAINTREE | 7.89 | 16 |
| BREWSTER | 5.21 | 103 |
| BRIDGEWATER | 8.2 | 11 |
| BRIMFIELD | 1.43 | 261 |
| BROCKTON | 7.69 | 20 |
| BROOKFIELD | 0.88 | 302 |
| BROOKLINE | 6.76 | 37 |
| BUCKLAND | na | na |
| BURLINGTON | 6.8 | 35 |
| CAMBRIDGE | 6.06 | 68 |
| CANTON | 6.83 | 34 |
| CARLISLE | 1.1 | 288 |
| CARVER | 1.37 | 266 |
| CHARLEMONT | 1.77 | 243 |
| CHARLTON | 6.63 | 43 |
| CHATHAM | 7.72 | 17 |
| CHELMSFORD | 4.31 | 147 |
| CHELSEA | 6.18 | 61 |
| CHESHIRE | 0.6 | 319 |
| CHESTER | 1.45 | 259 |
| CHESTERFIELD | 0.73 | 314 |
| CHICOPEE | 6.95 | 29 |
| CHILMARK | na | na |
| CLARKSBURG | 0.49 | 322 |
| CLINTON | 4.61 | 133 |
| COHASSET | 5.87 | 74 |
| COLRAIN | 1.27 | 276 |
| Community | Fire Department percent spending of general expenditures, 2012 | Rank |
| CONCORD | 4.77 | 120 |
| CONWAY | 0.8 | 308 |
| CUMMINGTON | 1.03 | 293 |
| DALTON | na | na |
| DANVERS | 5.58 | 87 |
| DARTMOUTH | na | na |
| DEDHAM | na | na |
| DEERFIELD | na | na |
| DENNIS | 9.1 | 6 |
| DIGHTON | 4.66 | 128 |
| DOUGLAS | 0.98 | 299 |
| DOVER | 1.53 | 254 |
| DRACUT | 5.33 | 99 |
| DUDLEY | 4.05 | 155 |
| DUNSTABLE | 1.19 | 282 |
| DUXBURY | 5.08 | 107 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | 4.96 | 112 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | 3.19 | 185 |
| EASTHAM | 8.7 | 9 |
| EASTHAMPTON | 6.02 | 69 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | 1.16 | 285 |
| EASTON | 4.69 | 122 |
| EDGARTOWN | 1.34 | 269 |
| EGREMONT | 2.32 | 214 |
| ERVING | 1.44 | 260 |
| ESSEX | 2.03 | 226 |
| EVERETT | 6.52 | 45 |
| FAIRHAVEN | 5.13 | 106 |
| FALL RIVER | 6.49 | 46 |
| FALMOUTH | 5.42 | 95 |
| FITCHBURG | 6.45 | 48 |
| FLORIDA | 1.87 | 232 |
| FOXBOROUGH | 5.18 | 104 |
| FRAMINGHAM | 6.99 | 27 |
| FRANKLIN | 4.63 | 130 |
| FREETOWN | 5.04 | 109 |
| GARDNER | 5.64 | 83 |
| GAY HEAD | 1.26 | 277 |
| GEORGETOWN | 1.91 | 230 |
| GILL | 2.36 | 212 |
| GLOUCESTER | 7.12 | 26 |
| GOSHEN | 1.81 | 237 |
| GOSNOLD | na | na |
| GRAFTON | 1.05 | 290 |
| GRANBY | 1.11 | 287 |
| GRANVILLE | 0.69 | 316 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | 1.74 | 245 |
| GREENFIELD | 3.5 | 174 |
| GROTON | 2.72 | 199 |
| GROVELAND | 1.71 | 247 |
| HADLEY | 1.65 | 249 |
| HALIFAX | 4.39 | 143 |
| HAMILTON | 2.23 | 217 |
| HAMPDEN | 0.74 | 313 |
| HANCOCK | 3.73 | 167 |
| HANOVER | 4.97 | 111 |
| HANSON | 8.18 | 13 |
| HARDWICK | 2.74 | 197 |
| HARVARD | 1.02 | 294 |
| HARWICH | 6.98 | 28 |
| HATFIELD | na | na |
| HAVERHILL | 7.15 | 25 |
| HAWLEY | 1.87 | 232 |
| HEATH | 1.08 | 289 |
| HINGHAM | 5.64 | 83 |
| HINSDALE | na | na |
| HOLBROOK | 7.55 | 21 |
| HOLDEN | 2.85 | 193 |
| HOLLAND | 1.17 | 284 |
| HOLLISTON | 1.25 | 278 |
| HOLYOKE | 6.9 | 33 |
| HOPEDALE | 3.19 | 185 |
| HOPKINTON | 3.27 | 183 |
| HUBBARDSTON | na | na |
| HUDSON | 4.59 | 134 |
| HULL | 8.32 | 10 |
| HUNTINGTON | 1.47 | 257 |
| IPSWICH | 3.85 | 165 |
| KINGSTON | 5.68 | 81 |
| LAKEVILLE | 4.18 | 150 |
| LANCASTER | 1.43 | 261 |
| LANESBOROUGH | 0.78 | 312 |
| LAWRENCE | 3.94 | 162 |
| LEE | 0.65 | 317 |
| LEICESTER | 0.85 | 307 |
| LENOX | 1.6 | 251 |
| LEOMINSTER | 7.3 | 24 |
| LEVERETT | 1.92 | 229 |
| LEXINGTON | 4.22 | 148 |
| LEYDEN | 1.51 | 255 |
| LINCOLN | 4.67 | 126 |
| LITTLETON | 2.35 | 213 |
| LONGMEADOW | 4.05 | 155 |
| LOWELL | 6.09 | 66 |
| LUDLOW | 3.64 | 170 |
| LUNENBURG | 2.61 | 202 |
| LYNN | 6.33 | 57 |
| LYNNFIELD | 2.57 | 204 |
| MALDEN | 6.92 | 30 |
| MANCHESTER | 4.78 | 119 |
| MANSFIELD | 3.96 | 161 |
| MARBLEHEAD | 4.68 | 124 |
| MARION | 2.81 | 194 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 6.92 | 30 |
| MARSHFIELD | 5.87 | 74 |
| MASHPEE | 6.32 | 58 |
| MATTAPOISETT | 1.54 | 252 |
| MAYNARD | 5.44 | 92 |
| MEDFIELD | 2.07 | 225 |
| MEDFORD | na | na |
| MEDWAY | 1.01 | 296 |
| MELROSE | 4.82 | 117 |
| MENDON | 4.68 | 124 |
| MERRIMAC | 3.13 | 187 |
| METHUEN | 6.41 | 50 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | 4 | 159 |
| MIDDLEFIELD | 0.33 | 324 |
| MIDDLETON | 6.16 | 63 |
| MILFORD | 4.5 | 136 |
| MILLBURY | 1.94 | 228 |
| MILLIS | 3.59 | 172 |
| MILLVILLE | 5.61 | 86 |
| MILTON | 6.78 | 36 |
| MONROE | 1.46 | 258 |
| MONSON | 0.43 | 323 |
| MONTAGUE | na | na |
| MONTEREY | 4.43 | 141 |
| MONTGOMERY | na | na |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | na | na |
| NAHANT | 8.75 | 8 |
| NANTUCKET | 4.69 | 122 |
| NATICK | 6.7 | 40 |
| NEEDHAM | 5.44 | 92 |
| NEW ASHFORD | 3.05 | 188 |
| NEW BEDFORD | 5.37 | 98 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | 2.69 | 201 |
| NEWBURY | 2.94 | 192 |
| NEWBURYPORT | 5.84 | 77 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | 2.38 | 211 |
| NEW SALEM | 3.37 | 176 |
| NEWTON | 5.76 | 79 |
| NORFOLK | 4.02 | 158 |
| NORTH ADAMS | 3.32 | 178 |
| NORTHAMPTON | 4.37 | 144 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | 6.44 | 49 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | 4.99 | 110 |
| NORTHBOROUGH | 2.71 | 200 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | 1.34 | 269 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | 1.04 | 291 |
| NORTHFIELD | 1.41 | 264 |
| NORTH READING | 5.22 | 102 |
| NORTON | 6.1 | 65 |
| NORWELL | 4.64 | 129 |
| NORWOOD | 5.33 | 99 |
| OAK BLUFFS | 0.87 | 304 |
| OAKHAM | 1.89 | 231 |
| ORANGE | 5.63 | 85 |
| ORLEANS | 8.78 | 7 |
| OTIS | 1.02 | 294 |
| OXFORD | na | na |
| PALMER | na | na |
| PAXTON | 2.19 | 219 |
| PEABODY | 6.35 | 54 |
| PELHAM | 2.11 | 222 |
| PEMBROKE | 4.7 | 121 |
| PEPPERELL | 1.32 | 273 |
| PERU | 1.83 | 234 |
| PETERSHAM | 1.21 | 281 |
| PHILLIPSTON | 4.17 | 151 |
| PITTSFIELD | 5.05 | 108 |
| PLAINFIELD | 1.49 | 256 |
| PLAINVILLE | 4.5 | 136 |
| PLYMOUTH | 6.37 | 52 |
| PLYMPTON | 1.78 | 242 |
| PRINCETON | 2.79 | 195 |
| PROVINCETOWN | 2.4 | 209 |
| QUINCY | 7.7 | 18 |
| RANDOLPH | 5.96 | 71 |
| RAYNHAM | 6.63 | 43 |
| READING | 3.87 | 164 |
| REHOBOTH | 1.64 | 250 |
| REVERE | 6.91 | 32 |
| RICHMOND | 1.43 | 261 |
| ROCHESTER | 0.88 | 302 |
| ROCKLAND | 6.01 | 70 |
| ROCKPORT | 1.23 | 280 |
| ROWE | 1.37 | 266 |
| ROWLEY | 2.73 | 198 |
| ROYALSTON | 3.71 | 168 |
| RUSSELL | 2.96 | 191 |
| RUTLAND | 1.24 | 279 |
| SALEM | 6.4 | 51 |
| SALISBURY | 5.93 | 73 |
| SANDISFIELD | 2.31 | 216 |
| SANDWICH | 6.17 | 62 |
| SAUGUS | 5.42 | 95 |
| SAVOY | 0.79 | 309 |
| SCITUATE | 7.7 | 18 |
| SEEKONK | 4.45 | 139 |
| SHARON | 4.08 | 154 |
| SHEFFIELD | 0.79 | 309 |
| SHELBURNE | na | na |
| SHERBORN | 1.98 | 227 |
| SHIRLEY | 2.2 | 218 |
| SHREWSBURY | 3.29 | 180 |
| SHUTESBURY | 1.8 | 239 |
| SOMERSET | 3.85 | 165 |
| SOMERVILLE | 9.18 | 4 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | 1.35 | 268 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | 4.15 | 153 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | 4.49 | 138 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | na | na |
| SOUTHWICK | 1.82 | 235 |
| SPENCER | 2.53 | 205 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 3.59 | 172 |
| STERLING | na | na |
| STOCKBRIDGE | 1.31 | 274 |
| STONEHAM | 4.19 | 149 |
| STOUGHTON | 5.39 | 97 |
| STOW | 2.49 | 206 |
| STURBRIDGE | 3.62 | 171 |
| SUDBURY | 4.16 | 152 |
| SUNDERLAND | 1.14 | 286 |
| SUTTON | 1.34 | 269 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | 6.08 | 67 |
| SWANSEA | 1.8 | 239 |
| TAUNTON | 6.34 | 55 |
| TEMPLETON | na | na |
| TEWKSBURY | 4.84 | 116 |
| TISBURY | 1.04 | 291 |
| TOLLAND | na | na |
| TOPSFIELD | 2.19 | 219 |
| TOWNSEND | 4.89 | 115 |
| TRURO | 1.82 | 235 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | 1.66 | 248 |
| TYRINGHAM | 2.46 | 208 |
| UPTON | 3.37 | 176 |
| UXBRIDGE | 1.34 | 269 |
| WAKEFIELD | 5.96 | 71 |
| WALES | 0.59 | 320 |
| WALPOLE | 4.82 | 117 |
| WALTHAM | 9.16 | 5 |
| WARE | 3.25 | 184 |
| WAREHAM | na | na |
| WARREN | 2.98 | 190 |
| WARWICK | 1.4 | 265 |
| WASHINGTON | 1.3 | 275 |
| WATERTOWN | 8.05 | 14 |
| WAYLAND | 3.7 | 169 |
| WEBSTER | na | na |
| WELLESLEY | 3.99 | 160 |
| WELLFLEET | 7.33 | 22 |
| WENDELL | 0.73 | 314 |
| WENHAM | 3.44 | 175 |
| WESTBOROUGH | 4.45 | 139 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | 3.05 | 188 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | 7.98 | 15 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | 1.81 | 237 |
| WESTFIELD | 5.15 | 105 |
| WESTFORD | 3.29 | 180 |
| WESTHAMPTON | 0.99 | 297 |
| WESTMINSTER | 4.9 | 114 |
| WEST NEWBURY | 2.49 | 206 |
| WESTON | 4.37 | 144 |
| WESTPORT | 5.48 | 91 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | 5.5 | 88 |
| WEST STOCKBRIDGE | 0.53 | 321 |
| WEST TISBURY | 1.74 | 245 |
| WESTWOOD | 4.33 | 146 |
| WEYMOUTH | 6.74 | 38 |
| WHATELY | 0.86 | 305 |
| WHITMAN | 9.58 | 3 |
| WILBRAHAM | 4.95 | 113 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | 1.18 | 283 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | na | na |
| WILMINGTON | 5.24 | 101 |
| WINCHENDON | 2.6 | 203 |
| WINCHESTER | 4.63 | 130 |
| WINDSOR | 0.97 | 301 |
| WINTHROP | 6.3 | 59 |
| WOBURN | 6.34 | 55 |
| WORCESTER | 7.31 | 23 |
| WORTHINGTON | na | na |
| WRENTHAM | 5.5 | 88 |
| YARMOUTH | 10.14 | 2 |