Charlotte, NC vs Fayetteville, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Charlotte, NC and Fayetteville, NC spend within 12.8% of each other per resident — $15,854 versus $14,049 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Fayetteville, 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, Fayetteville, NC carries the lighter load at $1,749 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 Fayetteville, NC at $1,062.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Fayetteville, NC relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Charlotte spends 12.8% more per capita than Fayetteville ($1,804/person difference). Fayetteville, 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 | $124 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $717 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $1,555 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $3,488 |
| Other | $4,866 | $3,474 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $196 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $378 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $319 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,062 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $2,914 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $3,100 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $628 |
| Other | $3,448 | $5,454 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.