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

Chicago, IL vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 49.1% more per capita than Chicago ($33,384/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

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
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Baltimore
Total Spending
$94.0B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$67,935
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$70,679
Total Debt
$2.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$977
$0
Population
2,721,914
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chicago$0
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Baltimore$384
Education
Chicago$0
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Chicago$426
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoBaltimore
Property Tax
$26
$84
Sales Tax
$74
$55
Income Tax
$229
$375
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$2,192
Other
$3,463
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoBaltimore
Police
$0
$820
Fire Protection
$10,754
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$930
$676
Education
$0
$35,510
Public Welfare
$1,858
$714
Health
$426
$757
Hospitals
$1,444
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$122
$384
Housing
$6,520
$4,087
Sewerage
$129
$87
Utilities
$2,983
$3,809
General Admin
$0
$19
Other
$9,385
$17,981
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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