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

Lynn, MA vs Lowell, MA

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Lynn, MA and Lowell, MA spend within 13.4% of each other per resident — $54,972 versus $48,457 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Lowell, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 50/100 (grade C) against 42/100 (grade D) for Lynn, MA — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Lynn, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Lowell, MA carries $470 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Lynn, MA at $40,488 per resident and in Lowell, MA at $31,397.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Lynn, MA and 15% in Lowell, MA.

Summary

Lynn spends 13.4% more per capita than Lowell ($6,515/person difference). Lowell, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 50/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Lynn, MA
Pop. 100,653
D
42/100
Budget Balance9
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Lowell, MA
Pop. 114,737
C
50/100
Budget Balance3
Debt Burden94
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lynn
Lowell
Total Spending
$5.5B
$5.6B
Spending / Capita
$54,972
$48,457
Total Revenue
$737.3M
$3.1B
Revenue / Capita
$7,325
$27,222
Total Debt
$0
$53.9M
Debt / Capita
$0
$470
Population
100,653
114,737
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Lynn$243
Lowell$194
Highways & Roads
Lynn$0
Lowell$182
Parks & Recreation
Lynn$957
Lowell$292
Education
Lynn$40,488
Lowell$31,397
Health
Lynn$132
Lowell$139

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LynnLowell
Sales Tax
$96
$639
Income Tax
$224
$274
Intergovernmental
$7,325
$4,160
Charges & Fees
$0
$1,061
Other
$255
$2,654

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LynnLowell
Fire Protection
$243
$194
Highways & Roads
$0
$182
Education
$40,488
$31,397
Public Welfare
$974
$349
Health
$132
$139
Hospitals
$489
$425
Parks & Recreation
$957
$292
Housing
$2,368
$2,733
Sewerage
$2,776
$126
Utilities
$834
$1,234
Other
$5,710
$11,388
D
Lynn, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 42/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Lowell, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.