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

Dallas, TX vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 38.1% more per capita than Dallas ($21,423/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dallas
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$45.3B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$34,849
$56,272
Total Revenue
$7.1B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$5,474
$40,425
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,069
Population
1,300,642
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dallas$1,519
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Dallas$305
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Dallas$201
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Dallas$0
Philadelphia$593
Education
Dallas$62
Philadelphia$0
Health
Dallas$0
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasPhiladelphia
Property Tax
$9
$0
Sales Tax
$25
$107
Income Tax
$0
$8
Intergovernmental
$1,223
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,790
Other
$584
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasPhiladelphia
Police
$1,519
$1,505
Fire Protection
$305
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$201
$1,215
Education
$62
$0
Public Welfare
$215
$1,456
Health
$0
$229
Hospitals
$385
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$0
$593
Housing
$444
$4,902
Sewerage
$0
$325
Utilities
$833
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$0
$3
General Admin
$25,827
$0
Other
$5,059
$30,692
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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