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

Jersey City, NJ vs Newark, NJ

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

Summary

Jersey City spends 5.6% more per capita than Newark ($1,122/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
Newark, NJ
Pop. 307,355
C
54/100
Budget Balance1
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency88
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Jersey City
Newark
Total Spending
$6.1B
$6.2B
Spending / Capita
$21,136
$20,014
Total Revenue
$4.5B
$1.5B
Revenue / Capita
$15,583
$4,833
Total Debt
$0
$72.6M
Debt / Capita
$0
$236
Population
287,899
307,355
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Jersey City$275
Newark$414
Highways & Roads
Jersey City$173
Newark$578
Parks & Recreation
Jersey City$248
Newark$350
Health
Jersey City$634
Newark$340

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Jersey CityNewark
Property Tax
$0
$34
Sales Tax
$420
$8
Income Tax
$603
$0
Intergovernmental
$4,168
$2,457
Charges & Fees
$2,474
$1,848
Other
$3,297
$2,165

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Jersey CityNewark
Fire Protection
$275
$414
Highways & Roads
$173
$578
Public Welfare
$953
$609
Health
$634
$340
Hospitals
$3,827
$5,702
Parks & Recreation
$248
$350
Housing
$4,412
$5,110
Sewerage
$155
$113
Utilities
$3,426
$2,504
Other
$7,033
$4,295
B
Jersey City, NJ
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
Newark, NJ
Fiscal Health Score: 54/100
Average fiscal health

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