Fall River, MA vs Worcester, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Worcester, MA and Fall River, MA spend within 1.9% of each other per resident — $42,049 versus $41,251 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Worcester, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Fall River, MA — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Worcester, MA carries the lighter load at $456 per resident versus $585 for Fall River, MA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Fall River, MA at $28,175 per resident and in Worcester, MA at $28,887.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 15% of total revenue in Fall River, MA and 9% in Worcester, MA.
Summary
Worcester spends 1.9% more per capita than Fall River ($798/person difference). Worcester, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $165 | $457 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $231 |
| Intergovernmental | $5,430 | $4,140 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,459 | $1,465 |
| Other | $4,494 | $3,233 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $265 | $186 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $163 |
| Education | $28,175 | $28,887 |
| Public Welfare | $581 | $889 |
| Health | $178 | $349 |
| Hospitals | $602 | $534 |
| Parks & Recreation | $211 | $461 |
| Housing | $2,452 | $2,901 |
| Sewerage | $127 | $209 |
| Utilities | $1,773 | $1,046 |
| Other | $6,887 | $6,424 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.