Bayonne, NJ vs Paterson, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bayonne, NJ outspends Paterson, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $50,508 versus $16,110, a 214% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Paterson, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 64/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Bayonne, NJ — a 12-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 Paterson, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $349.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bayonne, NJ and 100% in Paterson, NJ.
Summary
Bayonne spends 213.5% more per capita than Paterson ($34,398/person difference). Paterson, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 64/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $17 |
| Sales Tax | $421 | $450 |
| Intergovernmental | $22,076 | $6,517 |
| Other | $42 | $1,614 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $299 | $142 |
| Highways & Roads | $151 | $168 |
| Education | $33,371 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $312 | $294 |
| Health | $295 | $138 |
| Hospitals | $3,100 | $2,937 |
| Parks & Recreation | $724 | $349 |
| Housing | $3,721 | $2,861 |
| Sewerage | $80 | $1 |
| Utilities | $22 | $71 |
| Other | $8,434 | $9,148 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.