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

Columbia, SC vs Greenville, SC

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

Summary

Greenville spends 53.8% more per capita than Columbia ($23,197/person difference). Columbia, SC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Columbia, SC
Pop. 136,754
B
65/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency62
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Greenville, SC
Pop. 70,838
D
46/100
Budget Balance23
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbia
Greenville
Total Spending
$2.7B
$3.1B
Spending / Capita
$19,896
$43,093
Total Revenue
$8.8B
$1.3B
Revenue / Capita
$64,353
$17,967
Total Debt
$190.0M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,389
$0
Population
136,754
70,838
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbia$0
Greenville$4,914
Fire Protection
Columbia$467
Greenville$2,341
Highways & Roads
Columbia$454
Greenville$842
Parks & Recreation
Columbia$1,265
Greenville$2,637
Health
Columbia$0
Greenville$3,014

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbiaGreenville
Property Tax
$0
$1,988
Sales Tax
$623
$643
Income Tax
$42
$1,116
Intergovernmental
$6,842
$17,967
Charges & Fees
$8,276
$0
Other
$6,537
$4,746

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbiaGreenville
Police
$0
$4,914
Fire Protection
$467
$2,341
Highways & Roads
$454
$842
Public Welfare
$433
$1,226
Health
$0
$3,014
Hospitals
$1,042
$159
Parks & Recreation
$1,265
$2,637
Housing
$3,604
$11,807
Sewerage
$141
$551
Utilities
$4,665
$3,041
Other
$7,824
$12,562
B
Columbia, SC
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health
D
Greenville, SC
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health

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