Buffalo, NY vs Utica, NY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Buffalo, NY outspends Utica, NY by a wide margin per resident — $60,354 versus $15,612, a 287% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Utica, NY holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Buffalo, NY — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Buffalo, NY leads with education at $39,263 per resident, while Utica, NY leads with parks and recreation at $1,207.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Buffalo, NY at 22% of total revenue, whereas Utica, NY relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Buffalo spends 286.6% more per capita than Utica ($44,742/person difference). Utica, NY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $252 | $153 |
| Income Tax | $898 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $840 | $6,364 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,679 | $0 |
| Other | $2,952 | $1,276 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $306 | $230 |
| Highways & Roads | $432 | $230 |
| Education | $39,263 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,112 | $537 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $480 |
| Parks & Recreation | $410 | $1,207 |
| Housing | $3,491 | $3,171 |
| Sewerage | $189 | $123 |
| Utilities | $3,425 | $1,553 |
| Other | $11,726 | $8,082 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.