Arlington, TX vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Arlington, TX by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $11,769, a 88% 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 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $594 for Arlington, 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 Memphis, TN at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 41% of total revenue in Arlington, TX and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Memphis spends 46.8% more per capita than Arlington ($10,342/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 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $73 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $25,062 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,949 | $2,077 |
| Other | $3,897 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $160 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $149 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $826 | $630 |
| Health | $219 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $152 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,352 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $2,981 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $141 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,385 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $4,404 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.