Charlotte, NC vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $25,457 versus $15,854, a 61% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Charlotte, NC — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Charlotte, NC carries $2,690 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Charlotte, NC at $1,571 per resident and in Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Atlanta, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 6%.
Summary
Atlanta spends 37.7% more per capita than Charlotte ($9,604/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $541 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $5,645 |
| Other | $4,866 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $463 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $513 |
| Education | $0 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $343 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $8,026 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $0 |
| Other | $3,448 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.