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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Austin, TX vs Columbus, OH

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Austin spends 15.5% more per capita than Columbus ($2,914/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Austin
Columbus
Total Spending
$20.9B
$17.0B
Spending / Capita
$21,772
$18,858
Total Revenue
$74.4B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$77,600
$0
Total Debt
$1.2B
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$1,229
$1,145
Population
958,202
902,449
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Austin$634
Columbus$1,016
Highways & Roads
Austin$0
Columbus$224
Parks & Recreation
Austin$1,801
Columbus$2,168
Education
Austin$51
Columbus$0
Health
Austin$517
Columbus$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AustinColumbus
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$526
$234
Income Tax
$1,465
$1
Intergovernmental
$14,031
$0
Charges & Fees
$3,247
$2,389
Other
$5,645
$5,248

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AustinColumbus
Fire Protection
$634
$1,016
Highways & Roads
$0
$224
Education
$51
$0
Public Welfare
$1,837
$878
Health
$517
$0
Hospitals
$664
$953
Parks & Recreation
$1,801
$2,168
Housing
$3,741
$4,303
Sewerage
$865
$1
Utilities
$3,264
$1,719
Other
$8,399
$7,595
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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