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

Bakersfield, CA vs Portland, OR

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

Summary

Portland spends 51.1% more per capita than Bakersfield ($12,099/person difference). Portland, OR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

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
Portland, OR
Pop. 646,101
C
63/100
Budget Balance83
Debt Burden7
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency72
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Portland
Total Spending
$4.7B
$15.3B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$23,675
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$31.0B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$47,970
Total Debt
$0
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,574
Population
404,321
646,101
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Portland$1,700
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Portland$139
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Portland$2,477

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldPortland
Property Tax
$1
$0
Sales Tax
$20
$1,695
Income Tax
$1,909
$130
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$8,979
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$3,883
Other
$1,915
$7,916

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldPortland
Fire Protection
$0
$1,700
Highways & Roads
$0
$139
Public Welfare
$840
$3,607
Hospitals
$425
$2,893
Parks & Recreation
$741
$2,477
Housing
$3,391
$3,694
Sewerage
$265
$630
Utilities
$2,679
$1,845
Other
$3,234
$6,689
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

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