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

Boston, MA vs Milwaukee, WI

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

Summary

Boston spends 272.3% more per capita than Milwaukee ($52,882/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

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
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Boston
Milwaukee
Total Spending
$48.1B
$11.1B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$19,417
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$6.3B
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$11,027
Total Debt
$296.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$445
$0
Population
665,945
573,299
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Boston$0
Milwaukee$3,642
Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Milwaukee$802
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Milwaukee$23
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Milwaukee$2,206
Education
Boston$30,742
Milwaukee$0
Health
Boston$725
Milwaukee$1

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonMilwaukee
Sales Tax
$78
$6,548
Income Tax
$0
$1
Intergovernmental
$5,357
$1,231
Charges & Fees
$2,784
$0
Other
$4,557
$3,984

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonMilwaukee
Police
$0
$3,642
Fire Protection
$1,107
$802
Highways & Roads
$594
$23
Education
$30,742
$0
Public Welfare
$1,110
$180
Health
$725
$1
Hospitals
$2,584
$0
Parks & Recreation
$711
$2,206
Housing
$6,614
$1,071
Sewerage
$355
$0
Utilities
$3,402
$1,866
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,608
General Admin
$5,401
$0
Other
$18,955
$8,018
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health

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