Anaheim, CA vs Fresno, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Fresno, CA outspends Anaheim, CA by a wide margin per resident — $43,387 versus $23,533, a 84% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Anaheim, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 78/100 (grade B) against 50/100 (grade C) for Fresno, CA — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Anaheim, CA leads with parks and recreation at $2,078 per resident, while Fresno, CA leads with education at $3,942.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 5% of total revenue in Anaheim, CA and 19% in Fresno, CA.
Summary
Fresno spends 45.8% more per capita than Anaheim ($19,854/person difference). Anaheim, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 78/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $337 |
| Sales Tax | $1,788 | $19 |
| Income Tax | $2,380 | $501 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,297 | -$4,470 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,764 | $11 |
| Other | $5,232 | $2,070 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $3,261 |
| Fire Protection | $254 | $568 |
| Education | $0 | $3,942 |
| Public Welfare | $813 | $1,946 |
| Health | $358 | $599 |
| Hospitals | $4,753 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,078 | $76 |
| Housing | $5,592 | $2,856 |
| Sewerage | $726 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,943 | $15,340 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $255 |
| Other | $5,014 | $14,545 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.