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

Alexandria, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

Summary

Alexandria spends 24.2% more per capita than Portsmouth ($11,289/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Alexandria, VA
Pop. 157,594
C
53/100
Budget Balance50
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Alexandria
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$9.1B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$57,994
$46,704
Total Revenue
$2.0B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$12,835
$66,060
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
157,594
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Alexandria$1,312
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Alexandria$848
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Alexandria$675
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Alexandria$2,244
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Alexandria$22,295
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Alexandria$541
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AlexandriaPortsmouth
Property Tax
$38
$0
Sales Tax
$729
$291
Income Tax
$603
$2,119
Intergovernmental
$15,384
$12
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,606
Other
$6,522
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AlexandriaPortsmouth
Police
$1,312
$1,848
Fire Protection
$848
$450
Highways & Roads
$675
$954
Education
$22,295
$20,569
Public Welfare
$1,976
$1,406
Health
$541
$270
Hospitals
$3,274
$3,784
Parks & Recreation
$2,244
$1,573
Housing
$4,894
$3,282
Sewerage
$615
$298
Utilities
$4,795
$4,446
Interest on Debt
$1,752
$63
Other
$12,773
$7,760
C
Alexandria, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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