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

Jersey City, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ

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

Summary

Jersey City spends 0.3% more per capita than Elizabeth ($69/person difference). Jersey City, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Jersey City, NJ
Pop. 287,899
B
70/100
Budget Balance31
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency83
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50
City B
Elizabeth, NJ
Pop. 135,665
C
61/100
Budget Balance10
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency55
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Jersey City
Elizabeth
Total Spending
$6.1B
$2.9B
Spending / Capita
$21,136
$21,067
Total Revenue
$4.5B
$1.8B
Revenue / Capita
$15,583
$13,041
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
287,899
135,665
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Jersey City$275
Elizabeth$437
Highways & Roads
Jersey City$173
Elizabeth$599
Parks & Recreation
Jersey City$248
Elizabeth$980
Health
Jersey City$634
Elizabeth$332

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Jersey CityElizabeth
Sales Tax
$420
$528
Income Tax
$603
$24
Intergovernmental
$4,168
$1,021
Charges & Fees
$2,474
$2,319
Other
$3,297
$0

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Jersey CityElizabeth
Fire Protection
$275
$437
Highways & Roads
$173
$599
Public Welfare
$953
$225
Health
$634
$332
Hospitals
$3,827
$3,386
Parks & Recreation
$248
$980
Housing
$4,412
$3,768
Sewerage
$155
$178
Utilities
$3,426
$928
Other
$7,033
$10,234
B
Jersey City, NJ
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
Elizabeth, NJ
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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