Newark, NJ vs Jersey City, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jersey City, NJ and Newark, NJ spend within 5.6% of each other per resident — $21,136 versus $20,014 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Jersey City, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 70/100 (grade B) against 54/100 (grade C) for Newark, NJ — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Jersey City, 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 Jersey City, NJ leads with health at $634.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 51% of total revenue in Newark, NJ and 27% in Jersey City, NJ.
Summary
Jersey City spends 5.3% more per capita than Newark ($1,122/person difference). Jersey City, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $34 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $8 | $420 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $603 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,457 | $4,168 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,848 | $2,474 |
| Other | $2,165 | $3,297 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $414 | $275 |
| Highways & Roads | $578 | $173 |
| Public Welfare | $609 | $953 |
| Health | $340 | $634 |
| Hospitals | $5,702 | $3,827 |
| Parks & Recreation | $350 | $248 |
| Housing | $5,110 | $4,412 |
| Sewerage | $113 | $155 |
| Utilities | $2,504 | $3,426 |
| Other | $4,295 | $7,033 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.