Baltimore, MD vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boston, MA and Baltimore, MD spend within 6.4% of each other per resident — $72,299 versus $67,935 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Baltimore, MD holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 70/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Boston, MA — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Baltimore, MD reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Boston, MA carries $445 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Baltimore, MD at $35,510 per resident and in Boston, MA at $30,742.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Baltimore, MD and 17% in Boston, MA.
Summary
Boston spends 6.0% more per capita than Baltimore ($4,364/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $84 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $55 | $78 |
| Income Tax | $375 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $5,085 | $5,357 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,192 | $2,784 |
| Other | $4,765 | $4,557 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $820 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,214 | $1,107 |
| Highways & Roads | $676 | $594 |
| Education | $35,510 | $30,742 |
| Public Welfare | $714 | $1,110 |
| Health | $757 | $725 |
| Hospitals | $1,877 | $2,584 |
| Parks & Recreation | $384 | $711 |
| Housing | $4,087 | $6,614 |
| Sewerage | $87 | $355 |
| Utilities | $3,809 | $3,402 |
| General Admin | $19 | $5,401 |
| Other | $17,981 | $18,955 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.