Dayton, OH vs Hamilton, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hamilton, OH outspends Dayton, OH by a wide margin per resident — $116,276 versus $16,978, a 585% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Hamilton, OH holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Dayton, OH — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, OH at $2,102.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Dayton, OH at 52% of total revenue, whereas Hamilton, OH relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Hamilton spends 85.4% more per capita than Dayton ($99,298/person difference). Hamilton, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $30 | $604 |
| Sales Tax | $210 | $3,499 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,236 | $204,195 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,744 | $0 |
| Other | $5,977 | $71,987 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $855 | $2,102 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Public Welfare | $2,147 | $3,373 |
| Hospitals | $677 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $232 | $1,125 |
| Housing | $4,133 | $15,570 |
| Utilities | $2,873 | $50,129 |
| Other | $6,059 | $43,891 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.