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

Arlington, TX vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 72.8% more per capita than Arlington ($31,537/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 Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
San Diego
Total Spending
$4.6B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,769
$43,306
Total Revenue
$23.8B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$60,454
$9,662
Total Debt
$233.8M
$0
Debt / Capita
$594
$0
Population
393,469
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Arlington$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Arlington$160
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Arlington$149
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$1,352
San Diego$436
Education
Arlington$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Arlington$219
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSan Diego
Property Tax
$0
$124
Sales Tax
$507
$63
Income Tax
$73
$194
Intergovernmental
$25,062
$57
Charges & Fees
$2,949
$14
Other
$3,897
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$160
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$149
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$826
$700
Health
$219
$411
Hospitals
$152
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,352
$436
Housing
$2,981
$4,476
Sewerage
$141
$43
Utilities
$1,385
$11,704
Other
$4,404
$17,509
A
Arlington, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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