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

Boston, MA vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Boston spends 232.1% 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
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

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

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

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