Charlotte, NC vs Indianapolis city (balance), IN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Indianapolis city (balance), IN outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $46,045 versus $15,854, a 190% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Indianapolis city (balance), IN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 74/100 (grade B) against 63/100 (grade C) for Charlotte, NC — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Indianapolis city (balance), IN carries the lighter load at $577 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Charlotte, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,571 per resident, while Indianapolis city (balance), IN leads with police at $2,032.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 10% of total revenue in Charlotte, NC and 6% in Indianapolis city (balance), IN.
Summary
Indianapolis city (balance) spends 65.6% more per capita than Charlotte ($30,192/person difference). Indianapolis city (balance), IN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 74/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $20 |
| Sales Tax | $541 | $178 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $136 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $1,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $2,813 |
| Other | $4,866 | $4,675 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,032 |
| Fire Protection | $463 | $397 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $1,469 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $2,453 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $798 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $2,664 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $248 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $2,227 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $1,381 |
| General Admin | $0 | $23,227 |
| Other | $3,448 | $9,149 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.