Cambridge, MA vs New Bedford, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Cambridge, MA outspends New Bedford, MA by a wide margin per resident — $130,737 versus $49,215, a 166% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Cambridge, MA edges New Bedford, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 56/100 (grade C) to 49/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Cambridge, MA carries the lighter load at $420 per resident versus $506 for New Bedford, MA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Cambridge, MA at $25,601 per resident and in New Bedford, MA at $31,923.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Cambridge, MA and 31% in New Bedford, MA.
Summary
Cambridge spends 165.6% more per capita than New Bedford ($81,521/person difference). Cambridge, 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 | $1,121 | $123 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $5 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,117 | $7,480 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,585 | $1,982 |
| Other | $6,370 | $4,106 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $672 | $252 |
| Highways & Roads | $467 | $886 |
| Education | $25,601 | $31,923 |
| Public Welfare | $737 | $708 |
| Health | $998 | $255 |
| Hospitals | $508 | $610 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,179 | $315 |
| Housing | $4,715 | $2,315 |
| Sewerage | $1,718 | $99 |
| Utilities | $2,291 | $887 |
| General Admin | $76,486 | $0 |
| Other | $14,364 | $10,966 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.