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

Bakersfield, CA vs Sacramento, CA

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 83.7% more per capita than Bakersfield ($59,445/person difference). Sacramento, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Sacramento
Total Spending
$4.7B
$37.2B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$71,020
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$33.3B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$63,682
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
404,321
523,600
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
Sacramento$5,402
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Sacramento$2,466
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Sacramento$1,437
Education
Bakersfield$0
Sacramento$2,684
Health
Bakersfield$0
Sacramento$18

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldSacramento
Property Tax
$1
$1,465
Sales Tax
$20
$378
Income Tax
$1,909
$3,104
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$3,400
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$3,239
Other
$1,915
$5,072

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldSacramento
Police
$0
$5,402
Fire Protection
$0
$2,466
Education
$0
$2,684
Public Welfare
$840
$3,470
Health
$0
$18
Hospitals
$425
$0
Parks & Recreation
$741
$1,437
Housing
$3,391
$8,577
Sewerage
$265
$103
Utilities
$2,679
$19,920
Interest on Debt
$0
$162
Other
$3,234
$26,782
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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