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

New Bedford, MA vs Springfield, MA

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

Summary

Springfield spends 25.0% more per capita than New Bedford ($16,411/person difference). New Bedford, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 49/100).

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
Springfield, MA
Pop. 155,305
D
44/100
Budget Balance15
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
New Bedford
Springfield
Total Spending
$5.0B
$10.2B
Spending / Capita
$49,215
$65,626
Total Revenue
$2.4B
$2.4B
Revenue / Capita
$23,972
$15,275
Total Debt
$50.9M
$0
Debt / Capita
$506
$0
Population
100,620
155,305
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
New Bedford$252
Springfield$829
Highways & Roads
New Bedford$886
Springfield$308
Parks & Recreation
New Bedford$315
Springfield$673
Education
New Bedford$31,923
Springfield$47,090
Health
New Bedford$255
Springfield$453

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

New BedfordSpringfield
Sales Tax
$123
$34
Income Tax
$5
$0
Intergovernmental
$7,480
$15,275
Charges & Fees
$1,982
$0
Other
$4,106
$770

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

New BedfordSpringfield
Fire Protection
$252
$829
Highways & Roads
$886
$308
Education
$31,923
$47,090
Public Welfare
$708
$640
Health
$255
$453
Hospitals
$610
$861
Parks & Recreation
$315
$673
Housing
$2,315
$3,784
Sewerage
$99
$282
Utilities
$887
$200
Other
$10,966
$10,507
D
New Bedford, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 49/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Springfield, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health

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