Passaic, NJ vs Trenton, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Passaic, NJ and Trenton, NJ spend within 0.5% of each other per resident — $70,270 versus $69,951 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Passaic, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 50/100 (grade C) for Trenton, NJ — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Passaic, NJ reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Trenton, NJ carries $111 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Passaic, NJ at $19,480 per resident and in Trenton, NJ at $47,653.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Passaic, NJ at 3% of total revenue, whereas Trenton, NJ relies most on charges and fees at 46%.
Summary
Passaic spends 0.5% more per capita than Trenton ($320/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 | $22 |
| Sales Tax | $479 | $769 |
| Intergovernmental | $710 | $1,876 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $5,281 |
| Other | $1,358 | $432 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $8,511 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $752 | $333 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,498 | $0 |
| Education | $19,480 | $47,653 |
| Public Welfare | $871 | $362 |
| Health | $0 | $96 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $2,234 |
| Parks & Recreation | $975 | $580 |
| Housing | $5,476 | $3,325 |
| Sewerage | $78 | $176 |
| Utilities | $8,628 | $5,430 |
| General Admin | $353 | $0 |
| Other | $23,649 | $9,760 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.