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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Austin, TX vs Boston, MA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Boston spends 69.9% more per capita than Austin ($50,527/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Austin
Boston
Total Spending
$20.9B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$21,772
$72,299
Total Revenue
$74.4B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$77,600
$31,243
Total Debt
$1.2B
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$1,229
$445
Population
958,202
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Austin$634
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Austin$0
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Austin$1,801
Boston$711
Education
Austin$51
Boston$30,742
Health
Austin$517
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AustinBoston
Sales Tax
$526
$78
Income Tax
$1,465
$0
Intergovernmental
$14,031
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$3,247
$2,784
Other
$5,645
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AustinBoston
Fire Protection
$634
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$0
$594
Education
$51
$30,742
Public Welfare
$1,837
$1,110
Health
$517
$725
Hospitals
$664
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$1,801
$711
Housing
$3,741
$6,614
Sewerage
$865
$355
Utilities
$3,264
$3,402
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$8,399
$18,955
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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