Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Houston, TX by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $14,400, a 140% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Houston, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 61/100 (grade C) for Chicago, IL — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Houston, TX carries the lighter load at $863 per resident versus $977 for Chicago, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754 per resident, while Houston, TX leads with parks and recreation at $361.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Chicago, IL at 100% of total revenue, whereas Houston, TX relies most on other revenue at 7%.
Summary
Chicago spends 139.9% more per capita than Houston ($20,152/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $26 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $181 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $39 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $33 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $3,475 |
| Other | $3,463 | $3,960 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $295 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $175 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $533 |
| Health | $426 | $210 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $511 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $361 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $4,288 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $386 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $1,339 |
| Other | $9,385 | $6,301 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.