Decatur, AL vs Huntsville, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Decatur, AL and Huntsville, AL spend within 7.2% of each other per resident — $17,185 versus $16,033 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Huntsville, AL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 46/100 (grade D) for Decatur, AL — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Huntsville, AL carries the lighter load at $1,279 per resident versus $1,290 for Decatur, AL. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Decatur, AL at $2,612 per resident and in Huntsville, AL at $1,600.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Decatur, AL and 10% in Huntsville, AL.
Summary
Decatur spends 7.2% more per capita than Huntsville ($1,153/person difference). Huntsville, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $855 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $975 | $833 |
| Income Tax | $1,360 | $656 |
| Intergovernmental | $37,427 | $4,511 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,804 | $2,558 |
| Other | $4,387 | $2,647 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $254 | $637 |
| Highways & Roads | $95 | $0 |
| Education | $43 | $60 |
| Public Welfare | $1,023 | $708 |
| Health | $66 | $354 |
| Hospitals | $1,729 | $692 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,612 | $1,600 |
| Housing | $2,549 | $2,611 |
| Sewerage | $164 | $136 |
| Utilities | $3,362 | $2,983 |
| Other | $5,289 | $6,253 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.