Phoenix, AZ vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Boston, MA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $72,299 versus $15,793, a 358% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Boston, MA — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Boston, MA carries the lighter load at $445 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Boston, MA leads with education at $30,742.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 17% in Boston, MA.
Summary
Boston spends 78.2% more per capita than Phoenix ($56,506/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $78 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $5,357 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $2,784 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,557 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $1,107 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $594 |
| Education | $214 | $30,742 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,110 |
| Health | $258 | $725 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $2,584 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $711 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $6,614 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $355 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $3,402 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| General Admin | $0 | $5,401 |
| Other | $3,878 | $18,955 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.