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

Baltimore, MD vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 72.1% more per capita than Baltimore ($175,406/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Baltimore
Washington
Total Spending
$39.7B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$67,935
$243,341
Total Revenue
$41.3B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$70,679
$277,701
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,516
Population
584,548
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Baltimore$820
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Baltimore$1,214
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Baltimore$676
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Baltimore$384
Washington$5,459
Education
Baltimore$35,510
Washington$53,224
Health
Baltimore$757
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreWashington
Property Tax
$84
$25
Sales Tax
$55
$991
Income Tax
$375
$141
Intergovernmental
$5,085
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$2,192
$4,070
Other
$4,765
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BaltimoreWashington
Police
$820
$4,183
Fire Protection
$1,214
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$676
$1,435
Education
$35,510
$53,224
Public Welfare
$714
$2,498
Health
$757
$1,009
Hospitals
$1,877
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$384
$5,459
Housing
$4,087
$10,296
Sewerage
$87
$2,881
Utilities
$3,809
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$0
$58
General Admin
$19
$3,225
Other
$17,981
$48,155
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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