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

Bakersfield, CA vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 95.2% more per capita than Bakersfield ($231,765/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Bakersfield
Washington
Total Spending
$4.7B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$11,576
$243,341
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$3,862
$277,701
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,516
Population
404,321
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Bakersfield$0
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Bakersfield$0
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Bakersfield$0
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Bakersfield$741
Washington$5,459
Education
Bakersfield$0
Washington$53,224
Health
Bakersfield$0
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldWashington
Property Tax
$1
$25
Sales Tax
$20
$991
Income Tax
$1,909
$141
Intergovernmental
$3,862
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$1,024
$4,070
Other
$1,915
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BakersfieldWashington
Police
$0
$4,183
Fire Protection
$0
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,435
Education
$0
$53,224
Public Welfare
$840
$2,498
Health
$0
$1,009
Hospitals
$425
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$741
$5,459
Housing
$3,391
$10,296
Sewerage
$265
$2,881
Utilities
$2,679
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$0
$58
General Admin
$0
$3,225
Other
$3,234
$48,155
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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