Baltimore, MD vs Washington, DC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Baltimore, MD by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $67,935, a 258% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Baltimore, MD holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 70/100 (grade B) against 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 29-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Baltimore, MD reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Washington, DC carries $2,516 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Baltimore, MD at $35,510 per resident and in Washington, DC at $53,224.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in Baltimore, MD and 7% in Washington, DC.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.