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

Phoenix, AZ vs Boston, MA

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

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

City A
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
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
Phoenix
Boston
Total Spending
$25.4B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$72,299
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$31,243
Total Debt
$1.9B
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$445
Population
1,609,456
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Boston$711
Education
Phoenix$214
Boston$30,742
Health
Phoenix$258
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixBoston
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)

PhoenixBoston
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
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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