Quincy, MA vs New Bedford, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New Bedford, MA and Quincy, MA spend within 4.1% of each other per resident — $49,215 versus $47,287 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
New Bedford, MA edges Quincy, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 49/100 (grade D) to 43/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, New Bedford, MA carries the lighter load at $506 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 New Bedford, MA at $31,923.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 18% of total revenue in Quincy, MA and 31% in New Bedford, MA.
Summary
New Bedford spends 3.9% more per capita than Quincy ($1,928/person difference). New Bedford, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 49/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $100 | $123 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $5 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,074 | $7,480 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,340 | $1,982 |
| Other | $3,310 | $4,106 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $464 | $252 |
| Highways & Roads | $774 | $886 |
| Education | $21,538 | $31,923 |
| Public Welfare | $778 | $708 |
| Health | $374 | $255 |
| Hospitals | $1,076 | $610 |
| Parks & Recreation | $661 | $315 |
| Housing | $3,703 | $2,315 |
| Sewerage | $587 | $99 |
| Utilities | $2,689 | $887 |
| Other | $14,644 | $10,966 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.