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

Bakersfield, CA vs Memphis, TN

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

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

City A
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Memphis
Total Spending
$4.7B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$22,111
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
404,321
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Memphis$1,397
Health
Bakersfield$0
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldMemphis
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)

BakersfieldMemphis
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
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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