Quincy, MA vs Cambridge, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Cambridge, MA outspends Quincy, MA by a wide margin per resident — $130,737 versus $47,287, a 176% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Cambridge, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 56/100 (grade C) against 43/100 (grade D) for Quincy, MA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Cambridge, MA carries the lighter load at $420 per resident versus $1,638 for Quincy, MA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Quincy, MA at $21,538 per resident and in Cambridge, MA at $25,601.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 18% of total revenue in Quincy, MA and 16% in Cambridge, MA.
Summary
Cambridge spends 63.8% more per capita than Quincy ($83,450/person difference). Cambridge, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $100 | $1,121 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,074 | $7,117 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,340 | $1,585 |
| Other | $3,310 | $6,370 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $464 | $672 |
| Highways & Roads | $774 | $467 |
| Education | $21,538 | $25,601 |
| Public Welfare | $778 | $737 |
| Health | $374 | $998 |
| Hospitals | $1,076 | $508 |
| Parks & Recreation | $661 | $2,179 |
| Housing | $3,703 | $4,715 |
| Sewerage | $587 | $1,718 |
| Utilities | $2,689 | $2,291 |
| General Admin | $0 | $76,486 |
| Other | $14,644 | $14,364 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.