Alexandria, VA vs Norfolk, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Alexandria, VA and Norfolk, VA spend within 14.0% of each other per resident — $57,994 versus $50,880 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Alexandria, VA edges Norfolk, VA on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 53/100 (grade C) to 46/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Alexandria, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Norfolk, VA carries $1,370 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Alexandria, VA at $22,295 per resident and in Norfolk, VA at $19,019.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 120% of total revenue in Alexandria, VA and 7% in Norfolk, VA.
Summary
Alexandria spends 14.0% more per capita than Norfolk ($7,114/person difference). Alexandria, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $38 | $97 |
| Sales Tax | $729 | $1,289 |
| Income Tax | $603 | $896 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,384 | $4,946 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $4,679 |
| Other | $6,522 | $3,596 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,312 | $1,718 |
| Fire Protection | $848 | $832 |
| Highways & Roads | $675 | $1,186 |
| Education | $22,295 | $19,019 |
| Public Welfare | $1,976 | $1,311 |
| Health | $541 | $519 |
| Hospitals | $3,274 | $5,390 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,244 | $1,601 |
| Housing | $4,894 | $3,939 |
| Sewerage | $615 | $96 |
| Utilities | $4,795 | $5,495 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,752 | $0 |
| Other | $12,773 | $9,773 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.