Boston, MA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Boston spends 357.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($56,506/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Boston
Phoenix
Total Spending
$48.1B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$15,793
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$50,709
Total Debt
$296.3M
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$445
$1,156
Population
665,945
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Phoenix$652
Education
Boston$30,742
Phoenix$214
Health
Boston$725
Phoenix$258
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
BostonPhoenix
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $78 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $5,357 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,784 | $2,998 |
| Other | $4,557 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
BostonPhoenix
| Fire Protection | $1,107 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $594 | $86 |
| Education | $30,742 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $1,110 | $507 |
| Health | $725 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $2,584 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $711 | $652 |
| Housing | $6,614 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $355 | $388 |
| Utilities | $3,402 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| General Admin | $5,401 | $0 |
| Other | $18,955 | $3,878 |
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health