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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Charlotte, NC vs Sacramento, CA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Sacramento spends 77.7% more per capita than Charlotte ($55,167/person difference). Charlotte, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Charlotte, NC
Pop. 875,045
C
63/100
Budget Balance71
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Charlotte
Sacramento
Total Spending
$13.9B
$37.2B
Spending / Capita
$15,854
$71,020
Total Revenue
$43.5B
$33.3B
Revenue / Capita
$49,746
$63,682
Total Debt
$2.4B
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,690
$0
Population
875,045
523,600
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Charlotte$0
Sacramento$5,402
Fire Protection
Charlotte$463
Sacramento$2,466
Highways & Roads
Charlotte$41
Sacramento$0
Parks & Recreation
Charlotte$1,571
Sacramento$1,437
Education
Charlotte$0
Sacramento$2,684
Health
Charlotte$0
Sacramento$18

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

CharlotteSacramento
Property Tax
$0
$1,465
Sales Tax
$541
$378
Income Tax
$366
$3,104
Intergovernmental
$1,859
$3,400
Charges & Fees
$2,459
$3,239
Other
$4,866
$5,072

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

CharlotteSacramento
Police
$0
$5,402
Fire Protection
$463
$2,466
Highways & Roads
$41
$0
Education
$0
$2,684
Public Welfare
$672
$3,470
Health
$0
$18
Hospitals
$1,243
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,571
$1,437
Housing
$3,944
$8,577
Sewerage
$0
$103
Utilities
$2,244
$19,920
Interest on Debt
$2,226
$162
Other
$3,448
$26,782
C
Charlotte, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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