Boston, MA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boston, MA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $72,299 versus $15,793, a 358% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Boston, MA — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Boston, MA carries the lighter load at $445 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Boston, MA leads with education at $30,742 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 17% of total revenue in Boston, MA and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.