Los Angeles, CA vs Boston, MA

Los Angeles, CA spends 18% more per resident than Boston, MA: $85,432 against $72,299. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.

Boston, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 56/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Boston, MA carries $445 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111 per resident, while Boston, MA leads with education at $30,742.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Los Angeles, CA at 51% of total revenue, whereas Boston, MA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 17%.