Utica, NY vs Syracuse, NY
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Syracuse, NY outspends Utica, NY by a wide margin per resident — $55,830 versus $15,612, a 258% 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 57/100 (grade C) for Syracuse, NY — a 8-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 Syracuse, NY leads with education at $35,942.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Utica, NY and 17% in Syracuse, NY.
Summary
Syracuse spends 72.0% more per capita than Utica ($40,218/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 | $383 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,364 | $2,392 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,755 |
| Other | $1,276 | $873 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $230 | $282 |
| Highways & Roads | $230 | $288 |
| Education | $0 | $35,942 |
| Public Welfare | $537 | $614 |
| Hospitals | $480 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,207 | $600 |
| Housing | $3,171 | $3,659 |
| Sewerage | $123 | $317 |
| Utilities | $1,553 | $1,703 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $16 |
| Other | $8,082 | $12,408 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.