Charlotte, NC vs Oklahoma City, OK
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Oklahoma City, OK and Charlotte, NC spend within 14.0% of each other per resident — $18,074 versus $15,854 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Oklahoma City, OK edges Charlotte, NC on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 65/100 (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, Charlotte, NC carries the lighter load at $2,690 per resident versus $3,520 for Oklahoma City, OK. 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 Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Oklahoma City, OK relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 19%.
Summary
Oklahoma City spends 12.3% more per capita than Charlotte ($2,220/person difference). Oklahoma City, OK has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $541 | $763 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $1,037 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $6,852 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $3,256 |
| Other | $4,866 | $1,836 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $513 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $1,525 |
| Health | $0 | $5 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $2,044 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $2,014 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $2,857 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $4,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $707 |
| Other | $3,448 | $3,886 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.