New Bedford, MA vs Lynn, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Lynn, MA and New Bedford, MA spend within 11.7% of each other per resident — $54,972 versus $49,215 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
New Bedford, MA edges Lynn, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 49/100 (grade D) to 42/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Lynn, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while New Bedford, MA carries $506 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in New Bedford, MA at $31,923 per resident and in Lynn, MA at $40,488.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 31% of total revenue in New Bedford, MA and 100% in Lynn, MA.
Summary
Lynn spends 10.5% more per capita than New Bedford ($5,757/person difference). New Bedford, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 49/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $123 | $96 |
| Income Tax | $5 | $224 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,480 | $7,325 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,982 | $0 |
| Other | $4,106 | $255 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $252 | $243 |
| Highways & Roads | $886 | $0 |
| Education | $31,923 | $40,488 |
| Public Welfare | $708 | $974 |
| Health | $255 | $132 |
| Hospitals | $610 | $489 |
| Parks & Recreation | $315 | $957 |
| Housing | $2,315 | $2,368 |
| Sewerage | $99 | $2,776 |
| Utilities | $887 | $834 |
| Other | $10,966 | $5,710 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.