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

Bakersfield, CA vs Columbus, OH

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

Summary

Columbus spends 38.6% more per capita than Bakersfield ($7,282/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

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
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Columbus
Total Spending
$4.7B
$17.0B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$18,858
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$0
Total Debt
$0
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,145
Population
404,321
902,449
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Columbus$1,016
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Columbus$224
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Columbus$2,168

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldColumbus
Property Tax
$1
$10
Sales Tax
$20
$234
Income Tax
$1,909
$1
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$0
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$2,389
Other
$1,915
$5,248

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldColumbus
Fire Protection
$0
$1,016
Highways & Roads
$0
$224
Public Welfare
$840
$878
Hospitals
$425
$953
Parks & Recreation
$741
$2,168
Housing
$3,391
$4,303
Sewerage
$265
$1
Utilities
$2,679
$1,719
Other
$3,234
$7,595
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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