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

Arlington, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

Summary

Arlington spends 62.8% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($26,718/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
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Arlington
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$16.3B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$69,233
$42,515
Total Revenue
$18.1B
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$76,540
$31,808
Total Debt
$117.7M
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$499
$297
Population
235,845
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Arlington$2,158
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Arlington$694
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Arlington$780
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Arlington$2,793
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Arlington$28,519
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Arlington$851
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonVirginia Beach
Property Tax
$27
$0
Sales Tax
$554
$673
Income Tax
$466
$831
Intergovernmental
$4,733
$31,808
Charges & Fees
$2,576
$1,462
Other
$5,381
$3,301

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ArlingtonVirginia Beach
Police
$2,158
$1,126
Fire Protection
$694
$512
Highways & Roads
$780
$0
Education
$28,519
$21,342
Public Welfare
$3,283
$2,071
Health
$851
$426
Hospitals
$2,783
$1,036
Parks & Recreation
$2,793
$1,574
Housing
$4,402
$2,788
Sewerage
$57
$140
Utilities
$9,221
$3,523
Other
$13,692
$7,978
C
Arlington, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 58/100
Average fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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