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

Dallas, TX vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

Dallas spends 57.6% more per capita than Memphis ($12,738/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,300,642
C
57/100
Budget Balance16
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency21
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dallas
Memphis
Total Spending
$45.3B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$34,849
$22,111
Total Revenue
$7.1B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$5,474
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
1,300,642
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dallas$1,519
Memphis$0
Fire Protection
Dallas$305
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Dallas$201
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Dallas$0
Memphis$1,397
Education
Dallas$62
Memphis$0
Health
Dallas$0
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasMemphis
Property Tax
$9
$10
Sales Tax
$25
$496
Income Tax
$0
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$1,223
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,077
Other
$584
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasMemphis
Police
$1,519
$0
Fire Protection
$305
$469
Highways & Roads
$201
$277
Education
$62
$0
Public Welfare
$215
$630
Health
$0
$391
Hospitals
$385
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$0
$1,397
Housing
$444
$4,683
Utilities
$833
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
General Admin
$25,827
$0
Other
$5,059
$8,850
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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