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

Cambridge, MA vs Worcester, MA

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

Summary

Cambridge spends 210.9% more per capita than Worcester ($88,688/person difference). Worcester, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Cambridge, MA
Pop. 117,962
C
56/100
Budget Balance24
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Worcester, MA
Pop. 204,191
C
58/100
Budget Balance36
Debt Burden95
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Cambridge
Worcester
Total Spending
$15.4B
$8.6B
Spending / Capita
$130,737
$42,049
Total Revenue
$5.1B
$9.2B
Revenue / Capita
$43,440
$45,275
Total Debt
$49.6M
$93.0M
Debt / Capita
$420
$456
Population
117,962
204,191
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Cambridge$672
Worcester$186
Highways & Roads
Cambridge$467
Worcester$163
Parks & Recreation
Cambridge$2,179
Worcester$461
Education
Cambridge$25,601
Worcester$28,887
Health
Cambridge$998
Worcester$349

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

CambridgeWorcester
Sales Tax
$1,121
$457
Income Tax
$0
$231
Intergovernmental
$7,117
$4,140
Charges & Fees
$1,585
$1,465
Other
$6,370
$3,233

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

CambridgeWorcester
Fire Protection
$672
$186
Highways & Roads
$467
$163
Education
$25,601
$28,887
Public Welfare
$737
$889
Health
$998
$349
Hospitals
$508
$534
Parks & Recreation
$2,179
$461
Housing
$4,715
$2,901
Sewerage
$1,718
$209
Utilities
$2,291
$1,046
General Admin
$76,486
$0
Other
$14,364
$6,424
C
Cambridge, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Worcester, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health

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