Cambridge, MA vs Springfield, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Cambridge, MA outspends Springfield, MA by a wide margin per resident — $130,737 versus $65,626, a 99% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA carries $420 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Cambridge, MA at $25,601 per resident and in Springfield, MA at $47,090.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Cambridge, MA and 100% in Springfield, MA.
Summary
Cambridge spends 99.2% more per capita than Springfield ($65,110/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 | $34 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,117 | $15,275 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,585 | $0 |
| Other | $6,370 | $770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $672 | $829 |
| Highways & Roads | $467 | $308 |
| Education | $25,601 | $47,090 |
| Public Welfare | $737 | $640 |
| Health | $998 | $453 |
| Hospitals | $508 | $861 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,179 | $673 |
| Housing | $4,715 | $3,784 |
| Sewerage | $1,718 | $282 |
| Utilities | $2,291 | $200 |
| General Admin | $76,486 | $0 |
| Other | $14,364 | $10,507 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.