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

Worcester, MA vs Lowell, MA

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

Summary

Lowell spends 13.2% more per capita than Worcester ($6,408/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
Lowell, MA
Pop. 114,737
C
50/100
Budget Balance3
Debt Burden94
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Worcester
Lowell
Total Spending
$8.6B
$5.6B
Spending / Capita
$42,049
$48,457
Total Revenue
$9.2B
$3.1B
Revenue / Capita
$45,275
$27,222
Total Debt
$93.0M
$53.9M
Debt / Capita
$456
$470
Population
204,191
114,737
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Worcester$186
Lowell$194
Highways & Roads
Worcester$163
Lowell$182
Parks & Recreation
Worcester$461
Lowell$292
Education
Worcester$28,887
Lowell$31,397
Health
Worcester$349
Lowell$139

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterLowell
Sales Tax
$457
$639
Income Tax
$231
$274
Intergovernmental
$4,140
$4,160
Charges & Fees
$1,465
$1,061
Other
$3,233
$2,654

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WorcesterLowell
Fire Protection
$186
$194
Highways & Roads
$163
$182
Education
$28,887
$31,397
Public Welfare
$889
$349
Health
$349
$139
Hospitals
$534
$425
Parks & Recreation
$461
$292
Housing
$2,901
$2,733
Sewerage
$209
$126
Utilities
$1,046
$1,234
Other
$6,424
$11,388
C
Worcester, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
C
Lowell, MA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health

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