Worcester, MA vs Fall River, MA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Worcester, MA and Fall River, MA spend within 1.9% of each other per resident — $42,049 versus $41,251 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Worcester, MA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Fall River, MA — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Worcester, MA carries the lighter load at $456 per resident versus $585 for Fall River, MA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Worcester, MA at $28,887 per resident and in Fall River, MA at $28,175.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 9% of total revenue in Worcester, MA and 15% in Fall River, MA.
Summary
Worcester spends 1.9% more per capita than Fall River ($798/person difference). Worcester, MA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $457 | $165 |
| Income Tax | $231 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,140 | $5,430 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,465 | $1,459 |
| Other | $3,233 | $4,494 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $186 | $265 |
| Highways & Roads | $163 | $0 |
| Education | $28,887 | $28,175 |
| Public Welfare | $889 | $581 |
| Health | $349 | $178 |
| Hospitals | $534 | $602 |
| Parks & Recreation | $461 | $211 |
| Housing | $2,901 | $2,452 |
| Sewerage | $209 | $127 |
| Utilities | $1,046 | $1,773 |
| Other | $6,424 | $6,887 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.