Trenton, NJ vs Elizabeth, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Trenton, NJ outspends Elizabeth, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $69,951 versus $21,067, a 232% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Elizabeth, NJ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 50/100 (grade C) for Trenton, NJ — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Elizabeth, NJ reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Trenton, NJ carries $111 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Trenton, NJ leads with education at $47,653 per resident, while Elizabeth, NJ leads with parks and recreation at $980.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on charges and fees — 46% of total revenue in Trenton, NJ and 18% in Elizabeth, NJ.
Summary
Trenton spends 232.0% more per capita than Elizabeth ($48,884/person difference). Elizabeth, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $22 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $769 | $528 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $24 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,876 | $1,021 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,281 | $2,319 |
| Other | $432 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $333 | $437 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $599 |
| Education | $47,653 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $362 | $225 |
| Health | $96 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $2,234 | $3,386 |
| Parks & Recreation | $580 | $980 |
| Housing | $3,325 | $3,768 |
| Sewerage | $176 | $178 |
| Utilities | $5,430 | $928 |
| Other | $9,760 | $10,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.