Trenton, NJ vs Newark, NJ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Trenton, NJ outspends Newark, NJ by a wide margin per resident — $69,951 versus $20,014, a 250% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Newark, NJ edges Trenton, NJ on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 54/100 (grade C) to 50/100 (grade C). 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 $236 for Newark, NJ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Trenton, NJ leads with education at $47,653 per resident, while Newark, NJ leads with highways and roads at $578.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Trenton, NJ at 46% of total revenue, whereas Newark, NJ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 51%.
Summary
Trenton spends 249.5% more per capita than Newark ($49,937/person difference). Newark, NJ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 54/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $22 | $34 |
| Sales Tax | $769 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,876 | $2,457 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,281 | $1,848 |
| Other | $432 | $2,165 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $333 | $414 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $578 |
| Education | $47,653 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $362 | $609 |
| Health | $96 | $340 |
| Hospitals | $2,234 | $5,702 |
| Parks & Recreation | $580 | $350 |
| Housing | $3,325 | $5,110 |
| Sewerage | $176 | $113 |
| Utilities | $5,430 | $2,504 |
| Other | $9,760 | $4,295 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.