Atlanta, GA vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $25,457 versus $13,911, a 83% 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 76/100 (grade B) for Raleigh, NC — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Raleigh, NC carries $906 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 Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 6% of total revenue in Atlanta, GA and 47% in Raleigh, NC.
Summary
Atlanta spends 83.0% more per capita than Raleigh ($11,546/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 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $1,292 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,121 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,645 | $2,681 |
| Other | $5,461 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $315 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $464 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $513 | $448 |
| Education | $25 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $1,587 | $498 |
| Hospitals | $55 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,274 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $4,594 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $343 | $281 |
| Utilities | $8,026 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,513 |
| Other | $8,262 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.