Brockton, MA vs Springfield, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Springfield, MA and Brockton, MA spend within 12.4% of each other per resident — $65,626 versus $58,373 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Brockton, MA edges Springfield, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 49/100 (grade D) to 44/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Springfield, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Brockton, MA carries $491 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Brockton, MA at $38,500 per resident and in Springfield, MA at $47,090.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 22% of total revenue in Brockton, MA and 100% in Springfield, MA.
Summary
Springfield spends 11.1% more per capita than Brockton ($7,254/person difference). Brockton, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 49/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $164 | $34 |
| Income Tax | $766 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,401 | $15,275 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,028 | $0 |
| Other | $2,515 | $770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $746 | $829 |
| Highways & Roads | $271 | $308 |
| Education | $38,500 | $47,090 |
| Public Welfare | $581 | $640 |
| Health | $279 | $453 |
| Hospitals | $191 | $861 |
| Parks & Recreation | $222 | $673 |
| Housing | $2,794 | $3,784 |
| Sewerage | $135 | $282 |
| Utilities | $2,408 | $200 |
| Other | $12,245 | $10,507 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.