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

Arlington, TX vs San Antonio, TX

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

Summary

San Antonio spends 30.5% more per capita than Arlington ($5,173/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
San Antonio, TX
Pop. 1,445,662
B
68/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
San Antonio
Total Spending
$4.6B
$24.5B
Spending / Capita
$11,769
$16,943
Total Revenue
$23.8B
$124.1B
Revenue / Capita
$60,454
$85,853
Total Debt
$233.8M
$3.1B
Debt / Capita
$594
$2,131
Population
393,469
1,445,662
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Arlington$160
San Antonio$396
Highways & Roads
Arlington$149
San Antonio$158
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$1,352
San Antonio$1,045
Education
Arlington$0
San Antonio$23
Health
Arlington$219
San Antonio$293

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSan Antonio
Property Tax
$0
$9
Sales Tax
$507
$293
Income Tax
$73
$1,000
Intergovernmental
$25,062
$14,312
Charges & Fees
$2,949
$4,025
Other
$3,897
$3,184

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSan Antonio
Fire Protection
$160
$396
Highways & Roads
$149
$158
Education
$0
$23
Public Welfare
$826
$1,188
Health
$219
$293
Hospitals
$152
$993
Parks & Recreation
$1,352
$1,045
Housing
$2,981
$3,570
Sewerage
$141
$100
Utilities
$1,385
$3,826
Other
$4,404
$5,352
A
Arlington, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
San Antonio, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 68/100
Good fiscal health

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