Camden, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Camden, NJ outspends Elizabeth, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $55,742 versus $21,067, a 165% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Elizabeth, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 44/100 (grade D) for Camden, NJ — a 17-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: Camden, NJ leads with education at $9,407 per resident, while Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Camden, NJ at 98% of total revenue, whereas Elizabeth, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 18%.
Summary
Camden spends 164.6% more per capita than Elizabeth ($34,675/person difference). Elizabeth, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $70 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $90 | $528 |
| Income Tax | $1,040 | $24 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,075 | $1,021 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,319 |
| Other | $2,131 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $5,797 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $840 | $437 |
| Highways & Roads | $155 | $599 |
| Education | $9,407 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,010 | $225 |
| Health | $1,329 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $3,386 |
| Parks & Recreation | $570 | $980 |
| Housing | $4,700 | $3,768 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $178 |
| Utilities | $4,198 | $928 |
| General Admin | $32 | $0 |
| Other | $27,704 | $10,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.