Columbus, OH vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN spends 17% more per resident than Columbus, OH: $22,111 against $18,858. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Columbus, OH at $2,168 per resident and in Memphis, TN at $1,397.
Summary
Memphis spends 14.7% more per capita than Columbus ($3,253/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $2,077 |
| Other | $5,248 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $7,595 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.