Boston, MA vs Springfield, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boston, MA and Springfield, MA spend within 10.2% of each other per resident — $72,299 versus $65,626 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Boston, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 56/100 (grade C) against 44/100 (grade D) for Springfield, MA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Springfield, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Boston, MA carries $445 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Boston, MA at $30,742 per resident and in Springfield, MA at $47,090.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 17% of total revenue in Boston, MA and 100% in Springfield, MA.
Summary
Boston spends 10.2% more per capita than Springfield ($6,672/person difference). Boston, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $78 | $34 |
| Intergovernmental | $5,357 | $15,275 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,784 | $0 |
| Other | $4,557 | $770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,107 | $829 |
| Highways & Roads | $594 | $308 |
| Education | $30,742 | $47,090 |
| Public Welfare | $1,110 | $640 |
| Health | $725 | $453 |
| Hospitals | $2,584 | $861 |
| Parks & Recreation | $711 | $673 |
| Housing | $6,614 | $3,784 |
| Sewerage | $355 | $282 |
| Utilities | $3,402 | $200 |
| General Admin | $5,401 | $0 |
| Other | $18,955 | $10,507 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.