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

Columbus, OH vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

Summary

Virginia Beach spends 55.6% more per capita than Columbus ($23,657/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
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Columbus
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$17.0B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$18,858
$42,515
Total Revenue
$0
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$0
$31,808
Total Debt
$1.0B
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$1,145
$297
Population
902,449
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Columbus$0
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Columbus$1,016
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Columbus$224
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Columbus$2,168
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Columbus$0
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Columbus$0
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusVirginia Beach
Property Tax
$10
$0
Sales Tax
$234
$673
Income Tax
$1
$831
Intergovernmental
$0
$31,808
Charges & Fees
$2,389
$1,462
Other
$5,248
$3,301

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ColumbusVirginia Beach
Police
$0
$1,126
Fire Protection
$1,016
$512
Highways & Roads
$224
$0
Education
$0
$21,342
Public Welfare
$878
$2,071
Health
$0
$426
Hospitals
$953
$1,036
Parks & Recreation
$2,168
$1,574
Housing
$4,303
$2,788
Sewerage
$1
$140
Utilities
$1,719
$3,523
Other
$7,595
$7,978
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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