Lowell, MA vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Boston spends 33.0% more per capita than Lowell ($23,841/person difference). Boston, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).
Fiscal Health Score
C
50/100
Budget Balance3
Debt Burden94
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Lowell
Boston
Total Spending
$5.6B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$48,457
$72,299
Total Revenue
$3.1B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$27,222
$31,243
Total Debt
$53.9M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$470
$445
Population
114,737
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Fire Protection
Lowell$194
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Lowell$182
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Lowell$292
Boston$711
Education
Lowell$31,397
Boston$30,742
Health
Lowell$139
Boston$725
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
LowellBoston
| Sales Tax | $639 | $78 |
| Income Tax | $274 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,160 | $5,357 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,061 | $2,784 |
| Other | $2,654 | $4,557 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
LowellBoston
| Fire Protection | $194 | $1,107 |
| Highways & Roads | $182 | $594 |
| Education | $31,397 | $30,742 |
| Public Welfare | $349 | $1,110 |
| Health | $139 | $725 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $2,584 |
| Parks & Recreation | $292 | $711 |
| Housing | $2,733 | $6,614 |
| Sewerage | $126 | $355 |
| Utilities | $1,234 | $3,402 |
| General Admin | $0 | $5,401 |
| Other | $11,388 | $18,955 |
C
Lowell, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health