Alexandria, VA vs Richmond, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Richmond, VA and Alexandria, VA spend within 6.3% of each other per resident — $61,661 versus $57,994 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Alexandria, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Richmond, VA — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Alexandria, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Richmond, VA carries $1,304 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 Richmond, VA at $20,033.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Alexandria, VA at 120% of total revenue, whereas Richmond, VA relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Richmond spends 5.9% more per capita than Alexandria ($3,668/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $729 | $930 |
| Income Tax | $603 | $879 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,384 | $3,985 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,949 |
| Other | $6,522 | $7,690 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,312 | $2,108 |
| Fire Protection | $848 | $921 |
| Highways & Roads | $675 | $738 |
| Education | $22,295 | $20,033 |
| Public Welfare | $1,976 | $1,535 |
| Health | $541 | $341 |
| Hospitals | $3,274 | $3,770 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,244 | $1,154 |
| Housing | $4,894 | $5,951 |
| Sewerage | $615 | $17 |
| Utilities | $4,795 | $7,265 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,752 | $3,048 |
| Other | $12,773 | $14,781 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.