Austin, TX vs Corpus Christi, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Austin, TX outspends Corpus Christi, TX by a wide margin per resident — $21,772 versus $12,479, a 74% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Austin, TX edges Corpus Christi, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 75/100 (grade B) to 70/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Austin, TX carries the lighter load at $1,229 per resident versus $1,866 for Corpus Christi, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Austin, TX at $1,801 per resident and in Corpus Christi, TX at $751.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 18% of total revenue in Austin, TX and 13% in Corpus Christi, TX.
Summary
Austin spends 74.5% more per capita than Corpus Christi ($9,293/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $373 |
| Sales Tax | $526 | $346 |
| Income Tax | $1,465 | $1,344 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,031 | $6,076 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,247 | $5,136 |
| Other | $5,645 | $3,079 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $52 |
| Fire Protection | $634 | $217 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $71 |
| Education | $51 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,837 | $672 |
| Health | $517 | $167 |
| Hospitals | $664 | $1,004 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,801 | $751 |
| Housing | $3,741 | $2,573 |
| Sewerage | $865 | $117 |
| Utilities | $3,264 | $3,402 |
| Other | $8,399 | $3,452 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.