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

Rochester, NY vs Syracuse, NY

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

Summary

Rochester spends 34.6% more per capita than Syracuse ($19,324/person difference). Syracuse, NY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Rochester, NY
Pop. 210,992
D
47/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity21
Trend Direction50
City B
Syracuse, NY
Pop. 146,134
C
57/100
Budget Balance26
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Rochester
Syracuse
Total Spending
$15.9B
$8.2B
Spending / Capita
$75,154
$55,830
Total Revenue
$1.5B
$2.0B
Revenue / Capita
$7,104
$13,918
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
210,992
146,134
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Rochester$293
Syracuse$282
Highways & Roads
Rochester$379
Syracuse$288
Parks & Recreation
Rochester$910
Syracuse$600
Education
Rochester$42,739
Syracuse$35,942
Health
Rochester$753
Syracuse$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

RochesterSyracuse
Sales Tax
$511
$383
Income Tax
$1,427
$0
Intergovernmental
$3,814
$2,392
Charges & Fees
$1,993
$1,755
Other
$825
$873

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

RochesterSyracuse
Fire Protection
$293
$282
Highways & Roads
$379
$288
Education
$42,739
$35,942
Public Welfare
$140
$614
Health
$753
$0
Hospitals
$764
$0
Parks & Recreation
$910
$600
Housing
$5,169
$3,659
Sewerage
$547
$317
Utilities
$5,082
$1,703
Interest on Debt
$215
$16
Other
$18,162
$12,408
D
Rochester, NY
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Syracuse, NY
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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