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

Bakersfield, CA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 86.5% more per capita than Bakersfield ($73,857/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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$4.7B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$85,432
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$17,595
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
404,321
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Bakersfield$0
Los Angeles$829
Health
Bakersfield$0
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldLos Angeles
Property Tax
$1
$64
Sales Tax
$20
$77
Income Tax
$1,909
$307
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$134
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$459
Other
$1,915
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldLos Angeles
Police
$0
$4,111
Fire Protection
$0
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$0
$503
Education
$0
$829
Public Welfare
$840
$1,286
Health
$0
$409
Hospitals
$425
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$741
$1,347
Housing
$3,391
$6,325
Sewerage
$265
$34
Utilities
$2,679
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$0
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$3,234
$33,189
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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