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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Worcester, MA vs Boston, MA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Boston spends 41.8% more per capita than Worcester ($30,250/person difference). Worcester, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Worcester, MA
Pop. 204,191
C
58/100
Budget Balance36
Debt Burden95
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Boston, MA
Pop. 665,945
C
56/100
Budget Balance25
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Worcester
Boston
Total Spending
$8.6B
$48.1B
Spending / Capita
$42,049
$72,299
Total Revenue
$9.2B
$20.8B
Revenue / Capita
$45,275
$31,243
Total Debt
$93.0M
$296.3M
Debt / Capita
$456
$445
Population
204,191
665,945
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Worcester$186
Boston$1,107
Highways & Roads
Worcester$163
Boston$594
Parks & Recreation
Worcester$461
Boston$711
Education
Worcester$28,887
Boston$30,742
Health
Worcester$349
Boston$725

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterBoston
Sales Tax
$457
$78
Income Tax
$231
$0
Intergovernmental
$4,140
$5,357
Charges & Fees
$1,465
$2,784
Other
$3,233
$4,557

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterBoston
Fire Protection
$186
$1,107
Highways & Roads
$163
$594
Education
$28,887
$30,742
Public Welfare
$889
$1,110
Health
$349
$725
Hospitals
$534
$2,584
Parks & Recreation
$461
$711
Housing
$2,901
$6,614
Sewerage
$209
$355
Utilities
$1,046
$3,402
General Admin
$0
$5,401
Other
$6,424
$18,955
C
Worcester, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
C
Boston, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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