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

Arlington, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

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

Summary

Arlington spends 48.2% more per capita than Portsmouth ($22,529/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

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
Portsmouth, VA
Pop. 97,384
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
Portsmouth
Total Spending
$16.3B
$4.5B
Spending / Capita
$69,233
$46,704
Total Revenue
$18.1B
$6.4B
Revenue / Capita
$76,540
$66,060
Total Debt
$117.7M
$0
Debt / Capita
$499
$0
Population
235,845
97,384
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Arlington$2,158
Portsmouth$1,848
Fire Protection
Arlington$694
Portsmouth$450
Highways & Roads
Arlington$780
Portsmouth$954
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$2,793
Portsmouth$1,573
Education
Arlington$28,519
Portsmouth$20,569
Health
Arlington$851
Portsmouth$270

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonPortsmouth
Property Tax
$27
$0
Sales Tax
$554
$291
Income Tax
$466
$2,119
Intergovernmental
$4,733
$12
Charges & Fees
$2,576
$2,606
Other
$5,381
$2,972

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonPortsmouth
Police
$2,158
$1,848
Fire Protection
$694
$450
Highways & Roads
$780
$954
Education
$28,519
$20,569
Public Welfare
$3,283
$1,406
Health
$851
$270
Hospitals
$2,783
$3,784
Parks & Recreation
$2,793
$1,573
Housing
$4,402
$3,282
Sewerage
$57
$298
Utilities
$9,221
$4,446
Interest on Debt
$0
$63
Other
$13,692
$7,760
C
Arlington, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
B
Portsmouth, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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