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

Boston, MA vs Kansas City, MO

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

Summary

Boston spends 216.8% more per capita than Kansas City ($49,479/person difference). Boston, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

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
Kansas City, MO
Pop. 505,958
C
52/100
Budget Balance1
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency76
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Boston
Kansas City
Total Spending
$48.1B
$11.5B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$22,820
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$675.4M
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$1,335
Total Debt
$296.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$445
$0
Population
665,945
505,958
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Kansas City$119
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Kansas City$0
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Kansas City$1,309
Education
Boston$30,742
Kansas City$0
Health
Boston$725
Kansas City$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonKansas City
Sales Tax
$78
$623
Intergovernmental
$5,357
$7
Charges & Fees
$2,784
$3,794
Other
$4,557
$11,150

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonKansas City
Fire Protection
$1,107
$119
Highways & Roads
$594
$0
Education
$30,742
$0
Public Welfare
$1,110
$3,018
Health
$725
$0
Hospitals
$2,584
$1,849
Parks & Recreation
$711
$1,309
Housing
$6,614
$4,681
Sewerage
$355
$0
Utilities
$3,402
$3,123
General Admin
$5,401
$0
Other
$18,955
$8,721
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Kansas City, MO
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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