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

Columbus, OH vs Fresno, CA

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

Summary

Fresno spends 56.5% more per capita than Columbus ($24,529/person difference). Columbus, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).

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
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Fresno
Total Spending
$17.0B
$23.5B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$43,387
Total Revenue
$0
$6.0B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$10,998
Total Debt
$1.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$0
Population
902,449
541,528
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbus$0
Fresno$3,261
Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Fresno$568
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Fresno$0
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Fresno$76
Education
Columbus$0
Fresno$3,942
Health
Columbus$0
Fresno$599

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusFresno
Property Tax
$10
$337
Sales Tax
$234
$19
Income Tax
$1
$501
Intergovernmental
$0
-$4,470
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$11
Other
$5,248
$2,070

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusFresno
Police
$0
$3,261
Fire Protection
$1,016
$568
Highways & Roads
$224
$0
Education
$0
$3,942
Public Welfare
$878
$1,946
Health
$0
$599
Hospitals
$953
$0
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$76
Housing
$4,303
$2,856
Sewerage
$1
$0
Utilities
$1,719
$15,340
Interest on Debt
$0
$255
Other
$7,595
$14,545
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health

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