Bakersfield, CA vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Bakersfield, CA by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $11,576, a 91% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Bakersfield, CA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Bakersfield, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 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 Memphis, TN at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bakersfield, CA and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
Memphis spends 47.6% more per capita than Bakersfield ($10,535/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $20 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $1,909 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,862 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,024 | $2,077 |
| Other | $1,915 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $840 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $741 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $3,391 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $265 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,679 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $3,234 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.