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

Bakersfield, CA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 73.3% more per capita than Bakersfield ($31,731/person difference). Bakersfield, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 56/100).

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
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
San Diego
Total Spending
$4.7B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$43,306
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
404,321
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
San Diego$436
Education
Bakersfield$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Bakersfield$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldSan Diego
Property Tax
$1
$124
Sales Tax
$20
$63
Income Tax
$1,909
$194
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$57
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$14
Other
$1,915
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$0
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$840
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$425
$0
Parks & Recreation
$741
$436
Housing
$3,391
$4,476
Sewerage
$265
$43
Utilities
$2,679
$11,704
Other
$3,234
$17,509
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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