Passaic, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Passaic, NJ outspends Elizabeth, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $70,270 versus $21,067, a 234% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Passaic, NJ edges Elizabeth, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 63/100 (grade C) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Passaic, NJ leads with education at $19,480 per resident, while Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Passaic, NJ at 3% of total revenue, whereas Elizabeth, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 18%.
Summary
Passaic spends 233.6% more per capita than Elizabeth ($49,204/person difference). Passaic, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $182 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $479 | $528 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $24 |
| Intergovernmental | $710 | $1,021 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,319 |
| Other | $1,358 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $8,511 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $752 | $437 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,498 | $599 |
| Education | $19,480 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $871 | $225 |
| Health | $0 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $3,386 |
| Parks & Recreation | $975 | $980 |
| Housing | $5,476 | $3,768 |
| Sewerage | $78 | $178 |
| Utilities | $8,628 | $928 |
| General Admin | $353 | $0 |
| Other | $23,649 | $10,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.