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

Albuquerque, NM vs Fort Worth, TX

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Albuquerque, NM and Fort Worth, TX spend within 8.1% of each other per resident — $17,237 versus $15,939 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Albuquerque, NM holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 81/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Fort Worth, TX — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Albuquerque, NM carries the lighter load at $613 per resident versus $1,921 for Fort Worth, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Albuquerque, NM at $1,990 per resident and in Fort Worth, TX at $708.

They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Albuquerque, NM at 11% of total revenue, whereas Fort Worth, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 15%.

Summary

Albuquerque spends 8.1% more per capita than Fort Worth ($1,298/person difference). Albuquerque, NM has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 81/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Albuquerque, NM
Pop. 562,551
A
81/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden94
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Fort Worth, TX
Pop. 924,663
C
63/100
Budget Balance73
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Albuquerque
Fort Worth
Total Spending
$9.7B
$14.7B
Spending / Capita
$17,237
$15,939
Total Revenue
$13.3B
$24.7B
Revenue / Capita
$23,652
$26,694
Total Debt
$344.9M
$1.8B
Debt / Capita
$613
$1,921
Population
562,551
924,663
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Albuquerque$440
Fort Worth$156
Highways & Roads
Albuquerque$172
Fort Worth$317
Parks & Recreation
Albuquerque$1,990
Fort Worth$708
Health
Albuquerque$291
Fort Worth$235

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AlbuquerqueFort Worth
Property Tax
$36
$0
Sales Tax
$355
$198
Income Tax
$1,580
$851
Intergovernmental
$1,897
$4,002
Charges & Fees
$2,633
$3,594
Other
$2,174
$3,439

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AlbuquerqueFort Worth
Fire Protection
$440
$156
Highways & Roads
$172
$317
Public Welfare
$419
$869
Health
$291
$235
Hospitals
$328
$1,680
Parks & Recreation
$1,990
$708
Housing
$4,080
$4,217
Sewerage
$0
$267
Utilities
$5,212
$2,674
Interest on Debt
$1,096
$0
Other
$3,209
$4,817
A
Albuquerque, NM
Fiscal Health Score: 81/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Fort Worth, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.