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

Oakland, CA vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 58.4% more per capita than Oakland ($42,244/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Oakland
Boston
Total Spending
$13.2B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$30,055
$72,299
Total Revenue
$18.5B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$42,277
$31,243
Total Debt
$0
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$0
$445
Population
437,825
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Oakland$1
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Oakland$0
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Oakland$955
Boston$711
Education
Oakland$0
Boston$30,742
Health
Oakland$1,016
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandBoston
Sales Tax
$522
$78
Intergovernmental
$42,277
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,784
Other
$4,337
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandBoston
Fire Protection
$1
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$0
$594
Education
$0
$30,742
Public Welfare
$2,426
$1,110
Health
$1,016
$725
Hospitals
$2,498
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$955
$711
Housing
$7,811
$6,614
Sewerage
$1,417
$355
Utilities
$0
$3,402
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$13,929
$18,955
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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