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

Milwaukee, WI vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 73.1% more per capita than Milwaukee ($52,882/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50
City B
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Milwaukee
Boston
Total Spending
$11.1B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$19,417
$72,299
Total Revenue
$6.3B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$11,027
$31,243
Total Debt
$0
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$445
Population
573,299
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Milwaukee$3,642
Boston$0
Fire Protection
Milwaukee$802
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Milwaukee$23
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Milwaukee$2,206
Boston$711
Education
Milwaukee$0
Boston$30,742
Health
Milwaukee$1
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeBoston
Sales Tax
$6,548
$78
Income Tax
$1
$0
Intergovernmental
$1,231
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,784
Other
$3,984
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeBoston
Police
$3,642
$0
Fire Protection
$802
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$23
$594
Education
$0
$30,742
Public Welfare
$180
$1,110
Health
$1
$725
Hospitals
$0
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$2,206
$711
Housing
$1,071
$6,614
Sewerage
$0
$355
Utilities
$1,866
$3,402
Interest on Debt
$1,608
$0
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$8,018
$18,955
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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