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

Chicago, IL vs Fort Worth, TX

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

Summary

Chicago spends 116.8% more per capita than Fort Worth ($18,612/person difference). Fort Worth, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

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
Fort Worth, TX
Pop. 924,663
C
63/100
Budget Balance73
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Fort Worth
Total Spending
$94.0B
$14.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$15,939
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$24.7B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$26,694
Total Debt
$2.7B
$1.8B
Debt / Capita
$977
$1,921
Population
2,721,914
924,663
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Fort Worth$156
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Fort Worth$317
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Fort Worth$708
Health
Chicago$426
Fort Worth$235

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoFort Worth
Property Tax
$26
$0
Sales Tax
$74
$198
Income Tax
$229
$851
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$4,002
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$3,594
Other
$3,463
$3,439

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoFort Worth
Fire Protection
$10,754
$156
Highways & Roads
$930
$317
Public Welfare
$1,858
$869
Health
$426
$235
Hospitals
$1,444
$1,680
Parks & Recreation
$122
$708
Housing
$6,520
$4,217
Sewerage
$129
$267
Utilities
$2,983
$2,674
Other
$9,385
$4,817
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Fort Worth, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

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