Dayton, OH vs Akron, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Akron, OH spends 16% more per resident than Dayton, OH: $19,638 against $16,978. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Akron, OH holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 73/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Dayton, OH — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Akron, OH reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Dayton, OH carries $16 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Dayton, OH at $855 per resident and in Akron, OH at $922.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Dayton, OH at 52% of total revenue, whereas Akron, OH relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Akron spends 13.5% more per capita than Dayton ($2,660/person difference). Akron, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 73/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $30 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $210 | $148 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,236 | $23,016 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,744 | $1,806 |
| Other | $5,977 | $6,798 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $855 | $922 |
| Public Welfare | $2,147 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $677 | $4,350 |
| Parks & Recreation | $232 | $689 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $3,898 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $8 |
| Utilities | $2,873 | $3,689 |
| Other | $6,059 | $6,081 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.