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

Raleigh, NC vs Boston, MA

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

Summary

Boston spends 80.8% more per capita than Raleigh ($58,388/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Raleigh, NC
Pop. 465,517
B
76/100
Budget Balance82
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity67
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
Raleigh
Boston
Total Spending
$6.5B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$13,911
$72,299
Total Revenue
$13.9B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$29,940
$31,243
Total Debt
$421.6M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$906
$445
Population
465,517
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Raleigh$277
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Raleigh$448
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Raleigh$1,391
Boston$711
Education
Raleigh$6
Boston$30,742
Health
Raleigh$0
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighBoston
Sales Tax
$858
$78
Income Tax
$806
$0
Intergovernmental
$14,128
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$2,681
$2,784
Other
$4,740
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RaleighBoston
Fire Protection
$277
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$448
$594
Education
$6
$30,742
Public Welfare
$498
$1,110
Health
$0
$725
Hospitals
$669
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$1,391
$711
Housing
$2,712
$6,614
Sewerage
$281
$355
Utilities
$2,469
$3,402
Interest on Debt
$1,513
$0
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$3,646
$18,955
B
Raleigh, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 76/100
Good fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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