Newark, NJ vs Trenton, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Trenton, NJ outspends Newark, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $69,951 versus $20,014, a 250% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Newark, NJ edges Trenton, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 54/100 (grade C) to 50/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Trenton, NJ carries the lighter load at $111 per resident versus $236 for Newark, NJ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Newark, NJ leads with highways and roads at $578 per resident, while Trenton, NJ leads with education at $47,653.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Newark, NJ at 51% of total revenue, whereas Trenton, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 46%.
Summary
Trenton spends 71.4% more per capita than Newark ($49,937/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 | $22 |
| Sales Tax | $8 | $769 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,457 | $1,876 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,848 | $5,281 |
| Other | $2,165 | $432 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $414 | $333 |
| Highways & Roads | $578 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $47,653 |
| Public Welfare | $609 | $362 |
| Health | $340 | $96 |
| Hospitals | $5,702 | $2,234 |
| Parks & Recreation | $350 | $580 |
| Housing | $5,110 | $3,325 |
| Sewerage | $113 | $176 |
| Utilities | $2,504 | $5,430 |
| Other | $4,295 | $9,760 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.