Dayton, OH vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and Dayton, OH spend within 11.1% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $16,978 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Dayton, OH edges Columbus, OH on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 57/100 (grade C) to 52/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Dayton, OH carries the lighter load at $16 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Dayton, OH leads with fire protection at $855 per resident, while Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 10.0% more per capita than Dayton ($1,880/person difference). Dayton, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $30 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $210 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,236 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,744 | $2,389 |
| Other | $5,977 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $855 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $2,147 | $878 |
| Hospitals | $677 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $232 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $1 |
| Utilities | $2,873 | $1,719 |
| Other | $6,059 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.