Springfield, MA vs Cambridge, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Cambridge, MA outspends Springfield, MA by a wide margin per resident — $130,737 versus $65,626, a 99% 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 44/100 (grade D) for Springfield, MA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Springfield, MA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Cambridge, MA carries $420 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 Cambridge, MA at $25,601.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Springfield, MA and 16% in Cambridge, MA.
Summary
Cambridge spends 49.8% more per capita than Springfield ($65,110/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 | $34 | $1,121 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,275 | $7,117 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,585 |
| Other | $770 | $6,370 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $829 | $672 |
| Highways & Roads | $308 | $467 |
| Education | $47,090 | $25,601 |
| Public Welfare | $640 | $737 |
| Health | $453 | $998 |
| Hospitals | $861 | $508 |
| Parks & Recreation | $673 | $2,179 |
| Housing | $3,784 | $4,715 |
| Sewerage | $282 | $1,718 |
| Utilities | $200 | $2,291 |
| General Admin | $0 | $76,486 |
| Other | $10,507 | $14,364 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.