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

Baltimore, MD vs Bakersfield, CA

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 486.9% more per capita than Bakersfield ($56,359/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Baltimore
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$39.7B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$67,935
$11,576
Total Revenue
$41.3B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$70,679
$3,862
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
584,548
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Baltimore$820
Bakersfield$0
Fire Protection
Baltimore$1,214
Bakersfield$0
Highways & Roads
Baltimore$676
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Baltimore$384
Bakersfield$741
Education
Baltimore$35,510
Bakersfield$0
Health
Baltimore$757
Bakersfield$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreBakersfield
Property Tax
$84
$1
Sales Tax
$55
$20
Income Tax
$375
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$5,085
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$2,192
$1,024
Other
$4,765
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreBakersfield
Police
$820
$0
Fire Protection
$1,214
$0
Highways & Roads
$676
$0
Education
$35,510
$0
Public Welfare
$714
$840
Health
$757
$0
Hospitals
$1,877
$425
Parks & Recreation
$384
$741
Housing
$4,087
$3,391
Sewerage
$87
$265
Utilities
$3,809
$2,679
General Admin
$19
$0
Other
$17,981
$3,234
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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