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

Columbus, OH vs Toledo, OH

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Columbus, OH outspends Toledo, OH by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $5,129, a 268% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Toledo, OH edges Columbus, OH on the Fiscal Health Score by 3 points — 55/100 (grade C) to 52/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

Toledo, OH 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 Toledo, OH at $306.

Summary

Columbus spends 267.7% more per capita than Toledo ($13,729/person difference). Toledo, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

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
Toledo, OH
Pop. 269,962
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Toledo
Total Spending
$17.0B
$1.4B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$5,129
Total Revenue
$0
$10.9M
Revenue / Capita
$0
$40
Total Debt
$1.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$0
Population
902,449
269,962
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Toledo$0
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Toledo$0
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Toledo$306

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusToledo
Property Tax
$10
$0
Sales Tax
$234
$142
Income Tax
$1
$0
Intergovernmental
$0
$9
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$3,379
Other
$5,248
$9,201

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusToledo
Fire Protection
$1,016
$0
Highways & Roads
$224
$0
Public Welfare
$878
$0
Hospitals
$953
$1,874
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$306
Housing
$4,303
$0
Sewerage
$1
$117
Utilities
$1,719
$1,283
Other
$7,595
$1,550
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
C
Toledo, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.