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

Syracuse, NY vs Rochester, NY

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

Summary

Rochester spends 25.7% 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
Syracuse, NY
Pop. 146,134
C
57/100
Budget Balance26
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Rochester, NY
Pop. 210,992
D
47/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity21
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

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

Per Capita Spending by Department

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

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

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

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