Newark, NJ vs Camden, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Camden, NJ outspends Newark, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $55,742 versus $20,014, a 179% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Newark, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 54/100 (grade C) against 44/100 (grade D) for Camden, NJ — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Camden, NJ reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Newark, NJ carries $236 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Newark, NJ leads with highways and roads at $578 per resident, while Camden, NJ leads with education at $9,407.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 51% of total revenue in Newark, NJ and 98% in Camden, NJ.
Summary
Camden spends 64.1% more per capita than Newark ($35,728/person difference). Newark, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 54/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $34 | $70 |
| Sales Tax | $8 | $90 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,040 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,457 | $10,075 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,848 | $0 |
| Other | $2,165 | $2,131 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $5,797 |
| Fire Protection | $414 | $840 |
| Highways & Roads | $578 | $155 |
| Education | $0 | $9,407 |
| Public Welfare | $609 | $1,010 |
| Health | $340 | $1,329 |
| Hospitals | $5,702 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $350 | $570 |
| Housing | $5,110 | $4,700 |
| Sewerage | $113 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,504 | $4,198 |
| General Admin | $0 | $32 |
| Other | $4,295 | $27,704 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.