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

Baltimore, MD vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 97.1% more per capita than Seattle ($33,472/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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Baltimore
Seattle
Total Spending
$39.7B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$67,935
$34,463
Total Revenue
$41.3B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$70,679
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
584,548
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Baltimore$820
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Baltimore$1,214
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Baltimore$676
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Baltimore$384
Seattle$3,923
Education
Baltimore$35,510
Seattle$1,461
Health
Baltimore$757
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreSeattle
Property Tax
$84
$1,831
Sales Tax
$55
$1,094
Income Tax
$375
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$5,085
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$2,192
$3,960
Other
$4,765
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreSeattle
Police
$820
$0
Fire Protection
$1,214
$210
Highways & Roads
$676
$0
Education
$35,510
$1,461
Public Welfare
$714
$3,439
Health
$757
$1,131
Hospitals
$1,877
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$384
$3,923
Housing
$4,087
$3,727
Sewerage
$87
$952
Utilities
$3,809
$6,489
General Admin
$19
$0
Other
$17,981
$11,260
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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