Columbus, OH vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Seattle, WA outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $34,463 versus $18,858, a 83% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Seattle, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Seattle, WA carries the lighter load at $1,100 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 Seattle, WA at $3,923.
Summary
Seattle spends 45.3% more per capita than Columbus ($15,604/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $1,831 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $1,094 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $3,496 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $9,846 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $3,960 |
| Other | $5,248 | $8,544 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $210 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $1,461 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $3,439 |
| Health | $0 | $1,131 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $1,871 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $3,923 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $3,727 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $952 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $6,489 |
| Other | $7,595 | $11,260 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.