Columbus, OH vs Washington, DC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Washington, DC outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $243,341 versus $18,858, a 1190% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Columbus, OH holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 52/100 (grade C) against 41/100 (grade D) for Washington, DC — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $2,516 for Washington, DC. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168 per resident, while Washington, DC leads with education at $53,224.
Summary
Washington spends 92.3% more per capita than Columbus ($224,483/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 | $25 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $991 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $141 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $18,754 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $4,070 |
| Other | $5,248 | $11,518 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4,183 |
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $4,262 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $1,435 |
| Education | $0 | $53,224 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $2,498 |
| Health | $0 | $1,009 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $17,668 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $5,459 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $10,296 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $2,881 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $88,990 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $58 |
| General Admin | $0 | $3,225 |
| Other | $7,595 | $48,155 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.