Austin, TX vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portland, OR and Austin, TX spend within 8.7% of each other per resident — $23,675 versus $21,772 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Austin, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 63/100 (grade C) for Portland, OR — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Austin, TX carries the lighter load at $1,229 per resident versus $1,574 for Portland, OR. 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 Portland, OR at $2,477.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 18% of total revenue in Austin, TX and 19% in Portland, OR.
Summary
Portland spends 8.0% more per capita than Austin ($1,903/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)
| Sales Tax | $526 | $1,695 |
| Income Tax | $1,465 | $130 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,031 | $8,979 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,247 | $3,883 |
| Other | $5,645 | $7,916 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $634 | $1,700 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $139 |
| Education | $51 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,837 | $3,607 |
| Health | $517 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $664 | $2,893 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,801 | $2,477 |
| Housing | $3,741 | $3,694 |
| Sewerage | $865 | $630 |
| Utilities | $3,264 | $1,845 |
| Other | $8,399 | $6,689 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.