Arlington, TX vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH outspends Arlington, TX by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $11,769, a 60% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Arlington, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Arlington, TX carries the lighter load at $594 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Arlington, TX at $1,352 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 37.6% more per capita than Arlington ($7,089/person difference). Arlington, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $507 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $73 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $25,062 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,949 | $2,389 |
| Other | $3,897 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $160 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $149 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $826 | $878 |
| Health | $219 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $152 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,352 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $2,981 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $141 | $1 |
| Utilities | $1,385 | $1,719 |
| Other | $4,404 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.