Charlotte, NC vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC spend within 14.0% of each other per resident — $15,854 versus $13,911 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 63/100 (grade C) for Charlotte, NC — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 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 Raleigh, NC at $1,391.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Raleigh, NC relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 47%.
Summary
Charlotte spends 14.0% more per capita than Raleigh ($1,943/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $541 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $2,681 |
| Other | $4,866 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $448 |
| Education | $0 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $498 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $281 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $1,513 |
| Other | $3,448 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.