Atlanta, GA vs South Fulton, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA and South Fulton, GA spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $25,457 versus $23,211 — 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 48/100 (grade D) for South Fulton, GA — a 37-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. 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 South Fulton, GA at $985.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Atlanta, GA at 6% of total revenue, whereas South Fulton, GA relies most on other revenue at 1390%.
Summary
Atlanta spends 9.7% more per capita than South Fulton ($2,246/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 | $36 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $369 |
| Income Tax | $1,292 | $1,634 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,121 | $416 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,645 | $1,624 |
| Other | $5,461 | $5,785 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $315 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $464 | $456 |
| Highways & Roads | $513 | $129 |
| Education | $25 | $138 |
| Public Welfare | $1,587 | $1,252 |
| Hospitals | $55 | $381 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,274 | $985 |
| Housing | $4,594 | $2,512 |
| Sewerage | $343 | $0 |
| Utilities | $8,026 | $4,087 |
| Other | $8,262 | $13,271 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.