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

Columbus, OH vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 77.9% more per capita than Columbus ($66,574/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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$17.0B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$85,432
Total Revenue
$0
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$17,595
Total Debt
$1.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$0
Population
902,449
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbus$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Columbus$0
Los Angeles$829
Health
Columbus$0
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusLos Angeles
Property Tax
$10
$64
Sales Tax
$234
$77
Income Tax
$1
$307
Intergovernmental
$0
$134
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$459
Other
$5,248
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusLos Angeles
Police
$0
$4,111
Fire Protection
$1,016
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$224
$503
Education
$0
$829
Public Welfare
$878
$1,286
Health
$0
$409
Hospitals
$953
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$1,347
Housing
$4,303
$6,325
Sewerage
$1
$34
Utilities
$1,719
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$0
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$7,595
$33,189
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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