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

Boston, MA vs Sacramento, CA

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

Summary

Boston spends 1.8% more per capita than Sacramento ($1,278/person difference). Sacramento, CA 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
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Boston
Sacramento
Total Spending
$48.1B
$37.2B
Spending / Capita
$72,299
$71,020
Total Revenue
$20.8B
$33.3B
Revenue / Capita
$31,243
$63,682
Total Debt
$296.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$445
$0
Population
665,945
523,600
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Boston$0
Sacramento$5,402
Fire Protection
Boston$1,107
Sacramento$2,466
Highways & Roads
Boston$594
Sacramento$0
Parks & Recreation
Boston$711
Sacramento$1,437
Education
Boston$30,742
Sacramento$2,684
Health
Boston$725
Sacramento$18

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonSacramento
Property Tax
$0
$1,465
Sales Tax
$78
$378
Income Tax
$0
$3,104
Intergovernmental
$5,357
$3,400
Charges & Fees
$2,784
$3,239
Other
$4,557
$5,072

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BostonSacramento
Police
$0
$5,402
Fire Protection
$1,107
$2,466
Highways & Roads
$594
$0
Education
$30,742
$2,684
Public Welfare
$1,110
$3,470
Health
$725
$18
Hospitals
$2,584
$0
Parks & Recreation
$711
$1,437
Housing
$6,614
$8,577
Sewerage
$355
$103
Utilities
$3,402
$19,920
Interest on Debt
$0
$162
General Admin
$5,401
$0
Other
$18,955
$26,782
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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