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

Indianapolis city (balance), IN vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 36.3% more per capita than Indianapolis city (balance) ($26,254/person difference). Indianapolis city (balance), IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 74/100).

Fiscal Health Score

B
74/100
Budget Balance98
Debt Burden98
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
Indianapolis city (balance)
Boston
Total Spending
$40.6B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$46,045
$72,299
Total Revenue
$66.0B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$74,799
$31,243
Total Debt
$509.0M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$577
$445
Population
882,006
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Indianapolis city (balance)$2,032
Boston$0
Fire Protection
Indianapolis city (balance)$397
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Indianapolis city (balance)$0
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Indianapolis city (balance)$798
Boston$711
Education
Indianapolis city (balance)$0
Boston$30,742
Health
Indianapolis city (balance)$0
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Indianapolis city (balance)Boston
Property Tax
$20
$0
Sales Tax
$178
$78
Income Tax
$136
$0
Intergovernmental
$1,312
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$2,813
$2,784
Other
$4,675
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Indianapolis city (balance)Boston
Police
$2,032
$0
Fire Protection
$397
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$0
$594
Education
$0
$30,742
Public Welfare
$1,469
$1,110
Health
$0
$725
Hospitals
$2,453
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$798
$711
Housing
$2,664
$6,614
Sewerage
$248
$355
Utilities
$2,227
$3,402
Interest on Debt
$1,381
$0
General Admin
$23,227
$5,401
Other
$9,149
$18,955
B
Indianapolis city (balance), IN
Fiscal Health Score: 74/100
Good fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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