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

Arlington, TX vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Seattle spends 65.8% more per capita than Arlington ($22,693/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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
Seattle
Total Spending
$4.6B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$11,769
$34,463
Total Revenue
$23.8B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$60,454
$76,958
Total Debt
$233.8M
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$594
$1,100
Population
393,469
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Arlington$160
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Arlington$149
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$1,352
Seattle$3,923
Education
Arlington$0
Seattle$1,461
Health
Arlington$219
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSeattle
Property Tax
$0
$1,831
Sales Tax
$507
$1,094
Income Tax
$73
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$25,062
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$2,949
$3,960
Other
$3,897
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonSeattle
Fire Protection
$160
$210
Highways & Roads
$149
$0
Education
$0
$1,461
Public Welfare
$826
$3,439
Health
$219
$1,131
Hospitals
$152
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$1,352
$3,923
Housing
$2,981
$3,727
Sewerage
$141
$952
Utilities
$1,385
$6,489
Other
$4,404
$11,260
A
Arlington, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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