Trenton, NJ vs East Orange, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Trenton, NJ and East Orange, NJ spend within 0.7% of each other per resident — $69,951 versus $69,459 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Trenton, NJ edges East Orange, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 50/100 (grade C) to 43/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Trenton, NJ carries the lighter load at $111 per resident versus $323 for East Orange, NJ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Trenton, NJ at $47,653 per resident and in East Orange, NJ at $46,120.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Trenton, NJ at 46% of total revenue, whereas East Orange, NJ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 51%.
Summary
Trenton spends 0.7% more per capita than East Orange ($491/person difference). Trenton, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 50/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $22 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $769 | $164 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,876 | $7,381 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,281 | $3,463 |
| Other | $432 | $885 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $333 | $319 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $346 |
| Education | $47,653 | $46,120 |
| Public Welfare | $362 | $557 |
| Health | $96 | $623 |
| Hospitals | $2,234 | $2,311 |
| Parks & Recreation | $580 | $581 |
| Housing | $3,325 | $3,425 |
| Sewerage | $176 | $259 |
| Utilities | $5,430 | $4,177 |
| Other | $9,760 | $10,741 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.