Chesapeake, VA vs Alexandria, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Alexandria, VA spends 26% more per resident than Chesapeake, VA: $57,994 against $45,860. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Alexandria, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Chesapeake, VA — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Alexandria, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Chesapeake, VA carries $684 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Chesapeake, VA at $25,005 per resident and in Alexandria, VA at $22,295.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Chesapeake, VA at 3764% of total revenue, whereas Alexandria, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 120%.
Summary
Alexandria spends 20.9% more per capita than Chesapeake ($12,134/person difference). Alexandria, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $12 | $38 |
| Sales Tax | $39 | $729 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $603 |
| Intergovernmental | $5 | $15,384 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,780 | $0 |
| Other | $3,671 | $6,522 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,306 | $1,312 |
| Fire Protection | $755 | $848 |
| Highways & Roads | $413 | $675 |
| Education | $25,005 | $22,295 |
| Public Welfare | $2,106 | $1,976 |
| Health | $481 | $541 |
| Hospitals | $1,086 | $3,274 |
| Parks & Recreation | $559 | $2,244 |
| Housing | $3,550 | $4,894 |
| Sewerage | $331 | $615 |
| Utilities | $3,148 | $4,795 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,752 |
| Other | $6,120 | $12,773 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.