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

Boston, MA vs Dallas, TX

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

Summary

Boston spends 107.5% more per capita than Dallas ($37,450/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,300,642
C
57/100
Budget Balance16
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency21
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Boston
Dallas
Total Spending
$48.1B
$45.3B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$34,849
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$7.1B
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$5,474
Total Debt
$296.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$445
$0
Population
665,945
1,300,642
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Boston$0
Dallas$1,519
Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Dallas$305
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Dallas$201
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Dallas$0
Education
Boston$30,742
Dallas$62
Health
Boston$725
Dallas$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonDallas
Property Tax
$0
$9
Sales Tax
$78
$25
Intergovernmental
$5,357
$1,223
Charges & Fees
$2,784
$0
Other
$4,557
$584

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonDallas
Police
$0
$1,519
Fire Protection
$1,107
$305
Highways & Roads
$594
$201
Education
$30,742
$62
Public Welfare
$1,110
$215
Health
$725
$0
Hospitals
$2,584
$385
Parks & Recreation
$711
$0
Housing
$6,614
$444
Sewerage
$355
$0
Utilities
$3,402
$833
General Admin
$5,401
$25,827
Other
$18,955
$5,059
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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