Baltimore, MD vs Phoenix, AZ

Baltimore, MD outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $67,935 versus $15,793, a 330% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Baltimore, MD edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 70/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

Baltimore, MD reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Baltimore, MD leads with education at $35,510 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Baltimore, MD and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.