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

Columbus, OH vs Dayton, OH

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

Summary

Columbus spends 11.1% more per capita than Dayton ($1,880/person difference). Dayton, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Dayton, OH
Pop. 137,305
C
57/100
Budget Balance12
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity24
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Dayton
Total Spending
$17.0B
$2.3B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$16,978
Total Revenue
$0
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$11,491
Total Debt
$1.0B
$2.1M
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$16
Population
902,449
137,305
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Dayton$855
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Dayton$0
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Dayton$232

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusDayton
Property Tax
$10
$30
Sales Tax
$234
$210
Income Tax
$1
$0
Intergovernmental
$0
$2,236
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$3,744
Other
$5,248
$5,977

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusDayton
Fire Protection
$1,016
$855
Highways & Roads
$224
$0
Public Welfare
$878
$2,147
Hospitals
$953
$677
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$232
Housing
$4,303
$4,133
Sewerage
$1
$0
Utilities
$1,719
$2,873
Other
$7,595
$6,059
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
C
Dayton, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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