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

Arlington, TX vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Austin spends 45.9% more per capita than Arlington ($10,003/person difference). Arlington, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Arlington, TX
Pop. 393,469
A
83/100
Budget Balance78
Debt Burden96
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity89
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
Austin
Total Spending
$4.6B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,769
$21,772
Total Revenue
$23.8B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$60,454
$77,600
Total Debt
$233.8M
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$594
$1,229
Population
393,469
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Arlington$160
Austin$634
Highways & Roads
Arlington$149
Austin$0
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$1,352
Austin$1,801
Education
Arlington$0
Austin$51
Health
Arlington$219
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonAustin
Sales Tax
$507
$526
Income Tax
$73
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$25,062
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$2,949
$3,247
Other
$3,897
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonAustin
Fire Protection
$160
$634
Highways & Roads
$149
$0
Education
$0
$51
Public Welfare
$826
$1,837
Health
$219
$517
Hospitals
$152
$664
Parks & Recreation
$1,352
$1,801
Housing
$2,981
$3,741
Sewerage
$141
$865
Utilities
$1,385
$3,264
Other
$4,404
$8,399
A
Arlington, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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