Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Columbus, OH vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 72.2% more per capita than Columbus ($49,077/person difference). Baltimore, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Baltimore
Total Spending
$17.0B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$67,935
Total Revenue
$0
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$70,679
Total Debt
$1.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$0
Population
902,449
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbus$0
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Baltimore$384
Education
Columbus$0
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Columbus$0
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusBaltimore
Property Tax
$10
$84
Sales Tax
$234
$55
Income Tax
$1
$375
Intergovernmental
$0
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$2,192
Other
$5,248
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusBaltimore
Police
$0
$820
Fire Protection
$1,016
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$224
$676
Education
$0
$35,510
Public Welfare
$878
$714
Health
$0
$757
Hospitals
$953
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$384
Housing
$4,303
$4,087
Sewerage
$1
$87
Utilities
$1,719
$3,809
General Admin
$0
$19
Other
$7,595
$17,981
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities