Arlington, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Arlington, VA outspends Virginia Beach, VA by a wide margin per resident — $69,233 versus $42,515, a 63% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Arlington, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $499 for Arlington, VA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Arlington, VA at $28,519 per resident and in Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Arlington, VA at 7% of total revenue, whereas Virginia Beach, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.