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

New Bedford, MA vs Cambridge, MA

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

Summary

Cambridge spends 62.4% more per capita than New Bedford ($81,521/person difference). Cambridge, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
New Bedford, MA
Pop. 100,620
D
49/100
Budget Balance5
Debt Burden89
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Cambridge, MA
Pop. 117,962
C
56/100
Budget Balance24
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
New Bedford
Cambridge
Total Spending
$5.0B
$15.4B
Spending / Capita
$49,215
$130,737
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$5.1B
Revenue / Capita
$23,972
$43,440
Total Debt
$50.9M
$49.6M
Debt / Capita
$506
$420
Population
100,620
117,962
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
New Bedford$252
Cambridge$672
Highways & Roads
New Bedford$886
Cambridge$467
Parks & Recreation
New Bedford$315
Cambridge$2,179
Education
New Bedford$31,923
Cambridge$25,601
Health
New Bedford$255
Cambridge$998

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

New BedfordCambridge
Sales Tax
$123
$1,121
Income Tax
$5
$0
Intergovernmental
$7,480
$7,117
Charges & Fees
$1,982
$1,585
Other
$4,106
$6,370

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

New BedfordCambridge
Fire Protection
$252
$672
Highways & Roads
$886
$467
Education
$31,923
$25,601
Public Welfare
$708
$737
Health
$255
$998
Hospitals
$610
$508
Parks & Recreation
$315
$2,179
Housing
$2,315
$4,715
Sewerage
$99
$1,718
Utilities
$887
$2,291
General Admin
$0
$76,486
Other
$10,966
$14,364
D
New Bedford, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 49/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Cambridge, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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