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

Bakersfield, CA vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Austin spends 46.8% more per capita than Bakersfield ($10,196/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Austin
Total Spending
$4.7B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$21,772
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$77,600
Total Debt
$0
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,229
Population
404,321
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Austin$634
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Austin$1,801
Education
Bakersfield$0
Austin$51
Health
Bakersfield$0
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldAustin
Property Tax
$1
$0
Sales Tax
$20
$526
Income Tax
$1,909
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$3,247
Other
$1,915
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldAustin
Fire Protection
$0
$634
Education
$0
$51
Public Welfare
$840
$1,837
Health
$0
$517
Hospitals
$425
$664
Parks & Recreation
$741
$1,801
Housing
$3,391
$3,741
Sewerage
$265
$865
Utilities
$2,679
$3,264
Other
$3,234
$8,399
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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