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

Worcester, MA vs Cambridge, MA

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

Summary

Cambridge spends 67.8% more per capita than Worcester ($88,688/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
Cambridge, MA
Pop. 117,962
C
56/100
Budget Balance24
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Worcester
Cambridge
Total Spending
$8.6B
$15.4B
Spending / Capita
$42,049
$130,737
Total Revenue
$9.2B
$5.1B
Revenue / Capita
$45,275
$43,440
Total Debt
$93.0M
$49.6M
Debt / Capita
$456
$420
Population
204,191
117,962
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Worcester$186
Cambridge$672
Highways & Roads
Worcester$163
Cambridge$467
Parks & Recreation
Worcester$461
Cambridge$2,179
Education
Worcester$28,887
Cambridge$25,601
Health
Worcester$349
Cambridge$998

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterCambridge
Sales Tax
$457
$1,121
Income Tax
$231
$0
Intergovernmental
$4,140
$7,117
Charges & Fees
$1,465
$1,585
Other
$3,233
$6,370

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterCambridge
Fire Protection
$186
$672
Highways & Roads
$163
$467
Education
$28,887
$25,601
Public Welfare
$889
$737
Health
$349
$998
Hospitals
$534
$508
Parks & Recreation
$461
$2,179
Housing
$2,901
$4,715
Sewerage
$209
$1,718
Utilities
$1,046
$2,291
General Admin
$0
$76,486
Other
$6,424
$14,364
C
Worcester, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
C
Cambridge, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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