Columbus, OH vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $18,858, a 125% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Columbus, OH edges Virginia Beach, VA on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 52/100 (grade C) to 47/100 (grade D). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168 per resident, while Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.