Chandler, AZ vs Surprise, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chandler, AZ and Surprise, AZ spend within 2.6% of each other per resident — $14,811 versus $14,436 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
On the CitySpend Fiscal Health Score the two are level: Chandler, AZ and Surprise, AZ both land at 59/100 (grade C and C respectively), so the deciding factors sit in the underlying six-factor breakdown rather than the rolled-up grade.
On debt, Chandler, AZ carries the lighter load at $10 per resident versus $309 for Surprise, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Chandler, AZ at $899 per resident and in Surprise, AZ at $2,032.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chandler, AZ and 100% in Surprise, AZ.
Summary
Chandler spends 2.6% more per capita than Surprise ($374/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $90 | $100 |
| Income Tax | $669 | $673 |
| Intergovernmental | $10,136 | $3,454 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,938 | $1,036 |
| Other | $3,477 | $2,972 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $260 | $870 |
| Highways & Roads | $306 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $670 | $2,361 |
| Health | $243 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $374 | $1,200 |
| Parks & Recreation | $899 | $2,032 |
| Housing | $3,286 | $2,769 |
| Utilities | $2,461 | $1,764 |
| Interest on Debt | $88 | $38 |
| Other | $6,223 | $3,403 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.