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Government budget and revenue in Worcester, Massachusetts: official figures

Worcester's city government took in $1.1 billion in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $5,339 for each of its 205,319 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 87th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$5,339
2024
City government spending per resident
$6,531
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$4,965
2024

How much does Worcester spend and on what?

It spent $1.3 billion in the same year, $6,531 per resident, the 57th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were elementary and secondary schools (54.4%), police (7.5%) and fire protection (5.9%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Worcester collect per resident?

Taxes raised $422.96 million ($2,060 per resident, the 74th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 39.7% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Worcester rely on?

Of Worcester's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 95.8%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 1.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Worcester's property tax share is the 43rd highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Worcester get?

Payments from other governments made up 49.3% of Worcester's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 8.0% from the federal government ($413 per resident), 41.2% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Worcester raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $93.79 million, 8.8% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $30.50 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Worcester spend on police?

Worcester's city government spent $100.54 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $490 per resident (the 132nd highest of 582) and 7.5% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Worcester spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $78.74 million, $384 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Does Worcester city government run the schools?

Worcester's city government also pays for public schools: elementary and secondary education took $729.96 million, 54.4% of its spending in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, which in most US cities is spent by a separate school district instead.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Worcester have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Worcester's city government owed $1.0 billion in long-term debt, $4,965 per resident (the 90th highest of 582). During the year it issued $148.95 million of new long-term debt and repaid $76.91 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Worcester pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $34.74 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.6% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Worcester city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 12.7% from $6,117 to $5,339, spending per resident rose 11.3% to $6,531, taxes per resident rose 0.4% to $2,060.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Worcester compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 41 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
38New Brunswick$6,217
39Bryan$6,169
40Roseville$6,148
41Worcester$6,117
42Union City$6,111
43Lynn$6,051
44Norman$6,045
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 58 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
55Framingham$5,995
56Seattle$5,943
57Lawrence$5,934
58Worcester$5,870
59Gainesville$5,825
60Norfolk$5,793
61Huntsville$5,790
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 73 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
70Cincinnati$2,074
71Portsmouth$2,063
72Galveston$2,058
73Worcester$2,051
74Haverhill$2,029
75Portland$2,021
76Kansas City$2,003
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 363 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
360Utica$317
361Asheville$317
362Irving$317
363Worcester$317
364Madison$317
365Pinellas Park$316
366Kent$316
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 91 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
88West Palm Beach$5,044
89Goodyear$5,037
90Victorville$5,021
91Worcester$5,009
92Tallahassee$4,994
93Woodland$4,944
94Fishers$4,898
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 48 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
45Clifton96.2%
46Newton96.2%
47Westland96.2%
48Worcester96.0%
49Warwick96.0%
50West New York96.0%
51Medford95.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Worcester ranks 21 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
18Troy58.7%
19Revere56.7%
20Hartford56.5%
21Worcester55.8%
22Cheyenne55.8%
23Pawtucket55.7%
24Collierville54.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 87 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
84Chicago$5,400
85Bridgeport$5,367
86Waterbury$5,360
87Worcester$5,339
88Bryan$5,326
89Jacksonville$5,318
90Pensacola$5,308
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 57 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
54Lawrence$6,780
55Ocala$6,701
56Fall River$6,611
57Worcester$6,531
58Providence$6,519
59New Orleans$6,502
60Mountain View$6,501
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 74 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
71New Orleans$2,090
72Haverhill$2,084
73Lynchburg$2,071
74Worcester$2,060
75Providence$2,059
76Inglewood$2,051
77Boulder$2,033
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 132 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
129Vancouver$490
130Coconut Creek$490
131Lakeland$490
132Worcester$490
133Portsmouth$489
134Seattle$489
135North Miami$487
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 90 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
87Madison$5,021
88La Crosse$5,005
89Lubbock$4,971
90Worcester$4,965
91Lynchburg$4,940
92Portland$4,916
93Huntsville$4,882
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 43 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
40Newton95.9%
41Elizabeth95.9%
42St. Clair Shores95.9%
43Worcester95.8%
44Malden95.8%
45Livonia95.7%
46Warren95.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Worcester ranks 35 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
32Revere49.8%
33Macon-Bibb County49.6%
34Kenner49.6%
35Worcester49.3%
36Schenectady49.1%
37Utica48.8%
38New Haven48.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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