Lowell, MA vs Cambridge, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Cambridge spends 62.9% more per capita than Lowell ($82,279/person difference). Cambridge, 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 Balance24
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Lowell
Cambridge
Total Spending
$5.6B
$15.4B
Spending / Capita
$48,457
$130,737
Total Revenue
$3.1B
$5.1B
Revenue / Capita
$27,222
$43,440
Total Debt
$53.9M
$49.6M
Debt / Capita
$470
$420
Population
114,737
117,962
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Fire Protection
Lowell$194
Cambridge$672
Highways & Roads
Lowell$182
Cambridge$467
Parks & Recreation
Lowell$292
Cambridge$2,179
Education
Lowell$31,397
Cambridge$25,601
Health
Lowell$139
Cambridge$998
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
LowellCambridge
| Sales Tax | $639 | $1,121 |
| Income Tax | $274 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,160 | $7,117 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,061 | $1,585 |
| Other | $2,654 | $6,370 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
LowellCambridge
| Fire Protection | $194 | $672 |
| Highways & Roads | $182 | $467 |
| Education | $31,397 | $25,601 |
| Public Welfare | $349 | $737 |
| Health | $139 | $998 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $508 |
| Parks & Recreation | $292 | $2,179 |
| Housing | $2,733 | $4,715 |
| Sewerage | $126 | $1,718 |
| Utilities | $1,234 | $2,291 |
| General Admin | $0 | $76,486 |
| Other | $11,388 | $14,364 |
C
Lowell, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Cambridge, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health