Chicago, IL vs Jacksonville, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL and Jacksonville, FL spend within 9.8% of each other per resident — $34,551 versus $31,456 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 53/100 (grade C) for Jacksonville, FL — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $2,821 for Jacksonville, FL. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Chicago, IL at $10,754 per resident and in Jacksonville, FL at $9,436.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 14% in Jacksonville, FL.
Summary
Chicago spends 9.8% more per capita than Jacksonville ($3,095/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $26 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $233 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $762 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $7,348 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $2,119 |
| Other | $3,463 | $4,705 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $18 |
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $9,436 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $486 |
| Health | $426 | $332 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $557 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $1,329 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $5,572 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $176 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $1,835 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,942 |
| Other | $9,385 | $9,771 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.