Columbus, GA vs Roswell, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, GA and Roswell, GA spend within 7.9% of each other per resident — $15,522 versus $14,384 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Columbus, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 54/100 (grade C) for Roswell, GA — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Roswell, GA carries the lighter load at $34 per resident versus $37 for Columbus, GA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, GA leads with police at $1,611 per resident, while Roswell, GA leads with parks and recreation at $2,116.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Columbus, GA at 15% of total revenue, whereas Roswell, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 472%.
Summary
Columbus spends 7.9% more per capita than Roswell ($1,138/person difference). Columbus, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $64 | $53 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $822 |
| Income Tax | $688 | $1,347 |
| Intergovernmental | $792 | $9,926 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,259 | $303 |
| Other | $3,202 | $2,917 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,611 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $699 | $710 |
| Highways & Roads | $443 | $229 |
| Education | $21 | $7 |
| Public Welfare | $1,247 | $944 |
| Hospitals | $170 | $6 |
| Parks & Recreation | $669 | $2,116 |
| Housing | $2,701 | $2,325 |
| Sewerage | $66 | $65 |
| Utilities | $1,989 | $3,176 |
| Other | $5,907 | $4,807 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.