Elizabeth, NJ vs Newark, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Elizabeth, NJ and Newark, NJ spend within 5.3% of each other per resident — $21,067 versus $20,014 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Elizabeth, NJ edges Newark, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 54/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Elizabeth, NJ reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Newark, NJ carries $236 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980 per resident, while Newark, NJ leads with highways and roads at $578.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Elizabeth, NJ at 18% of total revenue, whereas Newark, NJ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 51%.
Summary
Elizabeth spends 5.3% more per capita than Newark ($1,053/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 | $0 | $34 |
| Sales Tax | $528 | $8 |
| Income Tax | $24 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,021 | $2,457 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,319 | $1,848 |
| Other | $0 | $2,165 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $437 | $414 |
| Highways & Roads | $599 | $578 |
| Public Welfare | $225 | $609 |
| Health | $332 | $340 |
| Hospitals | $3,386 | $5,702 |
| Parks & Recreation | $980 | $350 |
| Housing | $3,768 | $5,110 |
| Sewerage | $178 | $113 |
| Utilities | $928 | $2,504 |
| Other | $10,234 | $4,295 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.