Chesapeake, VA vs Portsmouth, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portsmouth, VA and Chesapeake, VA spend within 1.8% of each other per resident — $46,704 versus $45,860 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Portsmouth, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 41/100 (grade D) for Chesapeake, VA — a 34-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, VA at $20,569.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 3764% of total revenue in Chesapeake, VA and 4% in Portsmouth, VA.
Summary
Portsmouth spends 1.8% more per capita than Chesapeake ($845/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $12 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $39 | $291 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $2,119 |
| Intergovernmental | $5 | $12 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,780 | $2,606 |
| Other | $3,671 | $2,972 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,306 | $1,848 |
| Fire Protection | $755 | $450 |
| Highways & Roads | $413 | $954 |
| Education | $25,005 | $20,569 |
| Public Welfare | $2,106 | $1,406 |
| Health | $481 | $270 |
| Hospitals | $1,086 | $3,784 |
| Parks & Recreation | $559 | $1,573 |
| Housing | $3,550 | $3,282 |
| Sewerage | $331 | $298 |
| Utilities | $3,148 | $4,446 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $63 |
| Other | $6,120 | $7,760 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.