Bakersfield, CA vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Bakersfield, CA by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $11,576, a 323% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Bakersfield, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 56/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN — 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 Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN carries $2,292 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Bakersfield, CA leads with parks and recreation at $741 per resident, while Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN leads with education at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Bakersfield, CA and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 76.4% more per capita than Bakersfield ($37,372/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $20 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $1,909 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,862 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,024 | $2,444 |
| Other | $1,915 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $0 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $11 |
| Education | $0 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $840 | $738 |
| Health | $0 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $425 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $741 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $3,391 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $265 | $217 |
| Utilities | $2,679 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $3,234 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.