Charlotte, NC vs Cary, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Cary, NC and Charlotte, NC spend within 1.3% of each other per resident — $16,057 versus $15,854 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Cary, NC edges Charlotte, NC on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 70/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Cary, NC carries the lighter load at $582 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. 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 Cary, NC at $1,581.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Cary, NC relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Cary spends 1.3% more per capita than Charlotte ($204/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)
| Sales Tax | $541 | $493 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $801 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $26,541 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $1,981 |
| Other | $4,866 | $3,182 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $353 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $58 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $322 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,581 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $1,880 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $338 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $3,759 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $733 |
| Other | $3,448 | $7,034 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.