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

Dallas, TX vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 85.7% more per capita than Dallas ($208,492/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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dallas
Washington
Total Spending
$45.3B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$34,849
$243,341
Total Revenue
$7.1B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$5,474
$277,701
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,516
Population
1,300,642
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dallas$1,519
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
Dallas$305
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
Dallas$201
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
Dallas$0
Washington$5,459
Education
Dallas$62
Washington$53,224
Health
Dallas$0
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasWashington
Property Tax
$9
$25
Sales Tax
$25
$991
Income Tax
$0
$141
Intergovernmental
$1,223
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$0
$4,070
Other
$584
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasWashington
Police
$1,519
$4,183
Fire Protection
$305
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$201
$1,435
Education
$62
$53,224
Public Welfare
$215
$2,498
Health
$0
$1,009
Hospitals
$385
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$0
$5,459
Housing
$444
$10,296
Sewerage
$0
$2,881
Utilities
$833
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$0
$58
General Admin
$25,827
$3,225
Other
$5,059
$48,155
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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