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

Buffalo, NY vs Schenectady, NY

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

Summary

Buffalo spends 35.8% more per capita than Schenectady ($15,895/person difference). Buffalo, NY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Buffalo, NY
Pop. 276,688
C
57/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Schenectady, NY
Pop. 68,476
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Buffalo
Schenectady
Total Spending
$16.7B
$3.0B
Spending / Capita
$60,354
$44,459
Total Revenue
$3.8B
$885.6M
Revenue / Capita
$13,649
$12,933
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
276,688
68,476
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Buffalo$0
Schenectady$2,839
Fire Protection
Buffalo$306
Schenectady$406
Highways & Roads
Buffalo$432
Schenectady$440
Parks & Recreation
Buffalo$410
Schenectady$122
Education
Buffalo$39,263
Schenectady$0
Health
Buffalo$0
Schenectady$899

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BuffaloSchenectady
Sales Tax
$252
$64
Income Tax
$898
$26
Intergovernmental
$840
$12,933
Charges & Fees
$1,679
$0
Other
$2,952
$4,840

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BuffaloSchenectady
Police
$0
$2,839
Fire Protection
$306
$406
Highways & Roads
$432
$440
Education
$39,263
$0
Public Welfare
$1,112
$1,436
Health
$0
$899
Hospitals
$0
$34
Parks & Recreation
$410
$122
Housing
$3,491
$778
Sewerage
$189
$0
Utilities
$3,425
$9,610
Interest on Debt
$0
$47
Other
$11,726
$27,849
C
Buffalo, NY
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
D
Schenectady, NY
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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