Newark, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ and Newark, NJ spend within 5.3% of each other per resident — $21,067 versus $20,014 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Elizabeth, NJ edges Newark, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 54/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Newark, NJ at 51% of total revenue, whereas Elizabeth, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 18%.