Cary, NC vs Concord, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Concord, NC and Cary, NC spend within 1.0% of each other per resident — $16,213 versus $16,057 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Cary, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 70/100 (grade B) against 54/100 (grade C) for Concord, NC — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Concord, NC carries the lighter load at $222 per resident versus $582 for Cary, NC. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Cary, NC at $1,581 per resident and in Concord, NC at $981.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Cary, NC and 100% in Concord, NC.
Summary
Concord spends 1.0% more per capita than Cary ($156/person difference). Cary, NC 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 | $0 | $15 |
| Sales Tax | $493 | $348 |
| Income Tax | $801 | $149 |
| Intergovernmental | $26,541 | $5,704 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,981 | $2,794 |
| Other | $3,182 | $2,455 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $353 | $242 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $8 |
| Public Welfare | $58 | $1,019 |
| Hospitals | $322 | $2,283 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,581 | $981 |
| Housing | $1,880 | $2,735 |
| Sewerage | $338 | $0 |
| Utilities | $3,759 | $3,088 |
| Interest on Debt | $733 | $46 |
| Other | $7,034 | $5,812 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.