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

Arlington, VA vs Chesapeake, VA

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

Summary

Arlington spends 51.0% more per capita than Chesapeake ($23,373/person difference). Arlington, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Arlington, VA
Pop. 235,845
C
58/100
Budget Balance39
Debt Burden90
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
Chesapeake
Total Spending
$16.3B
$11.4B
Spending / Capita
$69,233
$45,860
Total Revenue
$18.1B
$24.3M
Revenue / Capita
$76,540
$98
Total Debt
$117.7M
$170.5M
Debt / Capita
$499
$684
Population
235,845
249,377
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Arlington$2,158
Chesapeake$2,306
Fire Protection
Arlington$694
Chesapeake$755
Highways & Roads
Arlington$780
Chesapeake$413
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$2,793
Chesapeake$559
Education
Arlington$28,519
Chesapeake$25,005
Health
Arlington$851
Chesapeake$481

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonChesapeake
Property Tax
$27
$12
Sales Tax
$554
$39
Income Tax
$466
$0
Intergovernmental
$4,733
$5
Charges & Fees
$2,576
$1,780
Other
$5,381
$3,671

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonChesapeake
Police
$2,158
$2,306
Fire Protection
$694
$755
Highways & Roads
$780
$413
Education
$28,519
$25,005
Public Welfare
$3,283
$2,106
Health
$851
$481
Hospitals
$2,783
$1,086
Parks & Recreation
$2,793
$559
Housing
$4,402
$3,550
Sewerage
$57
$331
Utilities
$9,221
$3,148
Other
$13,692
$6,120
C
Arlington, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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