Baltimore, MD vs Portland, OR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Baltimore, MD outspends Portland, OR by a wide margin per resident — $67,935 versus $23,675, a 187% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Baltimore, MD edges Portland, OR on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 70/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). 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 Portland, OR carries $1,574 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Baltimore, MD leads with education at $35,510 per resident, while Portland, OR leads with parks and recreation at $2,477.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Baltimore, MD and 19% in Portland, OR.
Summary
Baltimore spends 187.0% more per capita than Portland ($44,260/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $84 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $55 | $1,695 |
| Income Tax | $375 | $130 |
| Intergovernmental | $5,085 | $8,979 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,192 | $3,883 |
| Other | $4,765 | $7,916 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $820 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,214 | $1,700 |
| Highways & Roads | $676 | $139 |
| Education | $35,510 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $714 | $3,607 |
| Health | $757 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,877 | $2,893 |
| Parks & Recreation | $384 | $2,477 |
| Housing | $4,087 | $3,694 |
| Sewerage | $87 | $630 |
| Utilities | $3,809 | $1,845 |
| General Admin | $19 | $0 |
| Other | $17,981 | $6,689 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.