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

Birmingham, AL vs Decatur, AL

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

Summary

Birmingham spends 79.2% more per capita than Decatur ($13,605/person difference). Birmingham, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Birmingham, AL
Pop. 200,431
C
55/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Decatur, AL
Pop. 57,525
D
46/100
Budget Balance60
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Birmingham
Decatur
Total Spending
$6.2B
$988.6M
Spending / Capita
$30,790
$17,185
Total Revenue
$16.0B
$2.2B
Revenue / Capita
$79,635
$37,427
Total Debt
$565.8M
$74.2M
Debt / Capita
$2,823
$1,290
Population
200,431
57,525
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Birmingham$22
Decatur$0
Fire Protection
Birmingham$1,152
Decatur$254
Highways & Roads
Birmingham$848
Decatur$95
Parks & Recreation
Birmingham$1,823
Decatur$2,612
Education
Birmingham$0
Decatur$43
Health
Birmingham$683
Decatur$66

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BirminghamDecatur
Property Tax
$44
$855
Sales Tax
$281
$975
Income Tax
$0
$1,360
Intergovernmental
$468
$37,427
Charges & Fees
$10,460
$2,804
Other
$734
$4,387

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BirminghamDecatur
Police
$22
$0
Fire Protection
$1,152
$254
Highways & Roads
$848
$95
Education
$0
$43
Public Welfare
$2,110
$1,023
Health
$683
$66
Hospitals
$1,505
$1,729
Parks & Recreation
$1,823
$2,612
Housing
$5,487
$2,549
Sewerage
$594
$164
Utilities
$5,451
$3,362
Other
$11,115
$5,289
C
Birmingham, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
D
Decatur, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

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