Arlington, TX vs Corpus Christi, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Corpus Christi, TX and Arlington, TX spend within 6.0% of each other per resident — $12,479 versus $11,769 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Arlington, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 70/100 (grade B) for Corpus Christi, TX — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Arlington, TX carries the lighter load at $594 per resident versus $1,866 for Corpus Christi, TX. 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 Corpus Christi, TX at $751.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 41% of total revenue in Arlington, TX and 13% in Corpus Christi, TX.
Summary
Corpus Christi spends 5.7% more per capita than Arlington ($710/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 | $373 |
| Sales Tax | $507 | $346 |
| Income Tax | $73 | $1,344 |
| Intergovernmental | $25,062 | $6,076 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,949 | $5,136 |
| Other | $3,897 | $3,079 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $52 |
| Fire Protection | $160 | $217 |
| Highways & Roads | $149 | $71 |
| Public Welfare | $826 | $672 |
| Health | $219 | $167 |
| Hospitals | $152 | $1,004 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,352 | $751 |
| Housing | $2,981 | $2,573 |
| Sewerage | $141 | $117 |
| Utilities | $1,385 | $3,402 |
| Other | $4,404 | $3,452 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.