Utica, NY vs Rochester, NY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Rochester, NY outspends Utica, NY by a wide margin per resident — $75,154 versus $15,612, a 381% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Utica, NY holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Rochester, NY — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Utica, NY leads with parks and recreation at $1,207 per resident, while Rochester, NY leads with education at $42,739.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Utica, NY and 54% in Rochester, NY.
Summary
Rochester spends 79.2% more per capita than Utica ($59,542/person difference). Utica, NY has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $153 | $511 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,427 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,364 | $3,814 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,993 |
| Other | $1,276 | $825 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $230 | $293 |
| Highways & Roads | $230 | $379 |
| Education | $0 | $42,739 |
| Public Welfare | $537 | $140 |
| Health | $0 | $753 |
| Hospitals | $480 | $764 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,207 | $910 |
| Housing | $3,171 | $5,169 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $547 |
| Utilities | $1,553 | $5,082 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $215 |
| Other | $8,082 | $18,162 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.