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

Birmingham, AL vs Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Summary

Birmingham spends 182.6% more per capita than Tuscaloosa ($19,896/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.

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
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop. 105,797
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Birmingham
Tuscaloosa
Total Spending
$6.2B
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$30,790
$10,894
Total Revenue
$16.0B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$79,635
$0
Total Debt
$565.8M
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,823
$0
Population
200,431
105,797
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Birmingham$22
Tuscaloosa$1,260
Fire Protection
Birmingham$1,152
Tuscaloosa$1,043
Highways & Roads
Birmingham$848
Tuscaloosa$0
Parks & Recreation
Birmingham$1,823
Tuscaloosa$375
Health
Birmingham$683
Tuscaloosa$540

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

BirminghamTuscaloosa
Property Tax
$44
$2
Sales Tax
$281
$0
Intergovernmental
$468
$0
Charges & Fees
$10,460
$0
Other
$734
$791

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

BirminghamTuscaloosa
Police
$22
$1,260
Fire Protection
$1,152
$1,043
Highways & Roads
$848
$0
Public Welfare
$2,110
$2,419
Health
$683
$540
Hospitals
$1,505
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,823
$375
Housing
$5,487
$1,916
Sewerage
$594
$0
Utilities
$5,451
$88
Other
$11,115
$3,252
C
Birmingham, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
Tuscaloosa, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

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