Atlanta, GA vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA and Portland, OR spend within 7.5% of each other per resident — $25,457 versus $23,675 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Portland, OR — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Portland, OR carries $1,574 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Atlanta, GA at $1,274 per resident and in Portland, OR at $2,477.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 6% of total revenue in Atlanta, GA and 19% in Portland, OR.
Summary
Atlanta spends 7.5% more per capita than Portland ($1,783/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $1,695 |
| Income Tax | $1,292 | $130 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,121 | $8,979 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,645 | $3,883 |
| Other | $5,461 | $7,916 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $315 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $464 | $1,700 |
| Highways & Roads | $513 | $139 |
| Education | $25 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,587 | $3,607 |
| Hospitals | $55 | $2,893 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,274 | $2,477 |
| Housing | $4,594 | $3,694 |
| Sewerage | $343 | $630 |
| Utilities | $8,026 | $1,845 |
| Other | $8,262 | $6,689 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.