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

Chicago, IL vs Bakersfield, CA

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

Summary

Chicago spends 198.5% more per capita than Bakersfield ($22,976/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$94.0B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$11,576
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$3,862
Total Debt
$2.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$977
$0
Population
2,721,914
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Bakersfield$0
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Bakersfield$741
Health
Chicago$426
Bakersfield$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoBakersfield
Property Tax
$26
$1
Sales Tax
$74
$20
Income Tax
$229
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$1,024
Other
$3,463
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoBakersfield
Fire Protection
$10,754
$0
Highways & Roads
$930
$0
Public Welfare
$1,858
$840
Health
$426
$0
Hospitals
$1,444
$425
Parks & Recreation
$122
$741
Housing
$6,520
$3,391
Sewerage
$129
$265
Utilities
$2,983
$2,679
Other
$9,385
$3,234
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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