Lowell, MA vs New Bedford, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New Bedford, MA and Lowell, MA spend within 1.6% of each other per resident — $49,215 versus $48,457 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Lowell, MA edges New Bedford, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 50/100 (grade C) to 49/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Lowell, MA carries the lighter load at $470 per resident versus $506 for New Bedford, MA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Lowell, MA at $31,397 per resident and in New Bedford, MA at $31,923.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 15% of total revenue in Lowell, MA and 31% in New Bedford, MA.
Summary
New Bedford spends 1.5% more per capita than Lowell ($758/person difference). Lowell, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 50/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $639 | $123 |
| Income Tax | $274 | $5 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,160 | $7,480 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,061 | $1,982 |
| Other | $2,654 | $4,106 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $194 | $252 |
| Highways & Roads | $182 | $886 |
| Education | $31,397 | $31,923 |
| Public Welfare | $349 | $708 |
| Health | $139 | $255 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $610 |
| Parks & Recreation | $292 | $315 |
| Housing | $2,733 | $2,315 |
| Sewerage | $126 | $99 |
| Utilities | $1,234 | $887 |
| Other | $11,388 | $10,966 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.