Springfield, MA vs Brockton, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Springfield, MA and Brockton, MA spend within 12.4% of each other per resident — $65,626 versus $58,373 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Brockton, MA edges Springfield, MA on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 49/100 (grade D) to 44/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Springfield, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Brockton, MA carries $491 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Springfield, MA at $47,090 per resident and in Brockton, MA at $38,500.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Springfield, MA and 22% in Brockton, MA.
Summary
Springfield spends 12.4% more per capita than Brockton ($7,254/person difference). Brockton, 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 | $34 | $164 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $766 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,275 | $9,401 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,028 |
| Other | $770 | $2,515 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $829 | $746 |
| Highways & Roads | $308 | $271 |
| Education | $47,090 | $38,500 |
| Public Welfare | $640 | $581 |
| Health | $453 | $279 |
| Hospitals | $861 | $191 |
| Parks & Recreation | $673 | $222 |
| Housing | $3,784 | $2,794 |
| Sewerage | $282 | $135 |
| Utilities | $200 | $2,408 |
| Other | $10,507 | $12,245 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.