Atlanta, GA vs Baltimore, MD
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Baltimore, MD outspends Atlanta, GA by a wide margin per resident — $67,935 versus $25,457, a 167% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 70/100 (grade B) for Baltimore, MD — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Atlanta, GA leads with parks and recreation at $1,274 per resident, while Baltimore, MD leads with education at $35,510.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 6% of total revenue in Atlanta, GA and 7% in Baltimore, MD.
Summary
Baltimore spends 62.5% more per capita than Atlanta ($42,478/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $419 | $84 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $55 |
| Income Tax | $1,292 | $375 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,121 | $5,085 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,645 | $2,192 |
| Other | $5,461 | $4,765 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $315 | $820 |
| Fire Protection | $464 | $1,214 |
| Highways & Roads | $513 | $676 |
| Education | $25 | $35,510 |
| Public Welfare | $1,587 | $714 |
| Health | $0 | $757 |
| Hospitals | $55 | $1,877 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,274 | $384 |
| Housing | $4,594 | $4,087 |
| Sewerage | $343 | $87 |
| Utilities | $8,026 | $3,809 |
| General Admin | $0 | $19 |
| Other | $8,262 | $17,981 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.