Bakersfield, CA vs Arlington, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Arlington, TX and Bakersfield, CA spend within 1.7% of each other per resident — $11,769 versus $11,576 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Arlington, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 56/100 (grade C) for Bakersfield, CA — a 27-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Bakersfield, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Arlington, TX carries $594 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Bakersfield, CA at $741 per resident and in Arlington, TX at $1,352.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bakersfield, CA and 41% in Arlington, TX.
Summary
Arlington spends 1.6% more per capita than Bakersfield ($193/person difference). Arlington, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $20 | $507 |
| Income Tax | $1,909 | $73 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,862 | $25,062 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,024 | $2,949 |
| Other | $1,915 | $3,897 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $160 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $149 |
| Public Welfare | $840 | $826 |
| Health | $0 | $219 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $152 |
| Parks & Recreation | $741 | $1,352 |
| Housing | $3,391 | $2,981 |
| Sewerage | $265 | $141 |
| Utilities | $2,679 | $1,385 |
| Other | $3,234 | $4,404 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.