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

Dallas, TX vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 51.8% more per capita than Dallas ($37,450/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,300,642
C
57/100
Budget Balance16
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency21
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dallas
Boston
Total Spending
$45.3B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$34,849
$72,299
Total Revenue
$7.1B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$5,474
$31,243
Total Debt
$0
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$445
Population
1,300,642
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dallas$1,519
Boston$0
Fire Protection
Dallas$305
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Dallas$201
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Dallas$0
Boston$711
Education
Dallas$62
Boston$30,742
Health
Dallas$0
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasBoston
Property Tax
$9
$0
Sales Tax
$25
$78
Intergovernmental
$1,223
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,784
Other
$584
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasBoston
Police
$1,519
$0
Fire Protection
$305
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$201
$594
Education
$62
$30,742
Public Welfare
$215
$1,110
Health
$0
$725
Hospitals
$385
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$0
$711
Housing
$444
$6,614
Sewerage
$0
$355
Utilities
$833
$3,402
General Admin
$25,827
$5,401
Other
$5,059
$18,955
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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