Charlotte, NC vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $15,854, a 117% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Charlotte, NC edges Seattle, WA on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 63/100 (grade C) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Seattle, WA carries the lighter load at $1,100 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 Seattle, WA at $3,923.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas Seattle, WA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 13%.
Summary
Seattle spends 54.0% more per capita than Charlotte ($18,609/person difference). Charlotte, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $1,831 |
| Sales Tax | $541 | $1,094 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $3,496 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $9,846 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $3,960 |
| Other | $4,866 | $8,544 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $210 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $1,461 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $3,439 |
| Health | $0 | $1,131 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $1,871 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $3,923 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $3,727 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $952 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $6,489 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $0 |
| Other | $3,448 | $11,260 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.