Columbus, OH vs Omaha, NE
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH outspends Omaha, NE by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $11,180, a 69% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Omaha, NE holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 38-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Omaha, NE reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, OH carries $1,145 per resident. 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 Omaha, NE at $742.
Summary
Columbus spends 68.7% more per capita than Omaha ($7,678/person difference). Omaha, NE has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $624 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $2,622 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $0 |
| Other | $5,248 | $4,672 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $319 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $1,521 |
| Health | $0 | $456 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $742 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $3,045 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $581 |
| Other | $7,595 | $4,516 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.