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

Chesapeake, VA vs Roanoke, VA

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

Summary

Chesapeake spends 19.1% more per capita than Roanoke ($7,346/person difference). Roanoke, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 59/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chesapeake, VA
Pop. 249,377
D
41/100
Budget Balance30
Debt Burden68
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Roanoke, VA
Pop. 99,213
C
59/100
Budget Balance37
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chesapeake
Roanoke
Total Spending
$11.4B
$3.8B
Spending / Capita
$45,860
$38,513
Total Revenue
$24.3M
$1.8B
Revenue / Capita
$98
$18,241
Total Debt
$170.5M
$722K
Debt / Capita
$684
$7
Population
249,377
99,213
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chesapeake$2,306
Roanoke$1,543
Fire Protection
Chesapeake$755
Roanoke$235
Highways & Roads
Chesapeake$413
Roanoke$1,357
Parks & Recreation
Chesapeake$559
Roanoke$950
Education
Chesapeake$25,005
Roanoke$18,609
Health
Chesapeake$481
Roanoke$573

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeRoanoke
Property Tax
$12
$0
Sales Tax
$39
$472
Income Tax
$0
$386
Intergovernmental
$5
$1,358
Charges & Fees
$1,780
$0
Other
$3,671
$2,424

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChesapeakeRoanoke
Police
$2,306
$1,543
Fire Protection
$755
$235
Highways & Roads
$413
$1,357
Education
$25,005
$18,609
Public Welfare
$2,106
$0
Health
$481
$573
Hospitals
$1,086
$511
Parks & Recreation
$559
$950
Housing
$3,550
$2,054
Sewerage
$331
$112
Utilities
$3,148
$3,633
Other
$6,120
$8,936
D
Chesapeake, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Roanoke, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health

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