Bayonne, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bayonne, NJ outspends Elizabeth, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $50,508 versus $21,067, a 140% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Elizabeth, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Bayonne, NJ — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Bayonne, NJ leads with education at $33,371 per resident, while Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Bayonne, NJ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Elizabeth, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 18%.
Summary
Bayonne spends 139.8% more per capita than Elizabeth ($29,441/person difference). Elizabeth, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $421 | $528 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $24 |
| Intergovernmental | $22,076 | $1,021 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,319 |
| Other | $42 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $299 | $437 |
| Highways & Roads | $151 | $599 |
| Education | $33,371 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $312 | $225 |
| Health | $295 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $3,100 | $3,386 |
| Parks & Recreation | $724 | $980 |
| Housing | $3,721 | $3,768 |
| Sewerage | $80 | $178 |
| Utilities | $22 | $928 |
| Other | $8,434 | $10,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.