Paterson, NJ vs Bayonne, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Bayonne, NJ outspends Paterson, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $50,508 versus $16,110, a 214% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Paterson, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 64/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Bayonne, NJ — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
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: Paterson, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $349 per resident, while Bayonne, NJ leads with education at $33,371.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Paterson, NJ and 100% in Bayonne, NJ.
Summary
Bayonne spends 68.1% more per capita than Paterson ($34,398/person difference). Paterson, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 64/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $17 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $450 | $421 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,517 | $22,076 |
| Other | $1,614 | $42 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $142 | $299 |
| Highways & Roads | $168 | $151 |
| Education | $0 | $33,371 |
| Public Welfare | $294 | $312 |
| Health | $138 | $295 |
| Hospitals | $2,937 | $3,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $349 | $724 |
| Housing | $2,861 | $3,721 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $80 |
| Utilities | $71 | $22 |
| Other | $9,148 | $8,434 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.