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

Fresno, CA vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 40.0% more per capita than Fresno ($28,912/person difference). Boston, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
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
Fresno
Boston
Total Spending
$23.5B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$72,299
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$31,243
Total Debt
$0
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$445
Population
541,528
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Boston$0
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Boston$711
Education
Fresno$3,942
Boston$30,742
Health
Fresno$599
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoBoston
Property Tax
$337
$0
Sales Tax
$19
$78
Income Tax
$501
$0
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$11
$2,784
Other
$2,070
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoBoston
Police
$3,261
$0
Fire Protection
$568
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$0
$594
Education
$3,942
$30,742
Public Welfare
$1,946
$1,110
Health
$599
$725
Hospitals
$0
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$76
$711
Housing
$2,856
$6,614
Sewerage
$0
$355
Utilities
$15,340
$3,402
Interest on Debt
$255
$0
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$14,545
$18,955
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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