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

Decatur, AL vs Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Summary

Decatur spends 57.7% more per capita than Tuscaloosa ($6,291/person difference). Tuscaloosa, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Decatur, AL
Pop. 57,525
D
46/100
Budget Balance60
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency69
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop. 105,797
C
55/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Decatur
Tuscaloosa
Total Spending
$988.6M
$1.2B
Spending / Capita
$17,185
$10,894
Total Revenue
$2.2B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$37,427
$0
Total Debt
$74.2M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,290
$0
Population
57,525
105,797
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Decatur$0
Tuscaloosa$1,260
Fire Protection
Decatur$254
Tuscaloosa$1,043
Highways & Roads
Decatur$95
Tuscaloosa$0
Parks & Recreation
Decatur$2,612
Tuscaloosa$375
Education
Decatur$43
Tuscaloosa$0
Health
Decatur$66
Tuscaloosa$540

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DecaturTuscaloosa
Property Tax
$855
$2
Sales Tax
$975
$0
Income Tax
$1,360
$0
Intergovernmental
$37,427
$0
Charges & Fees
$2,804
$0
Other
$4,387
$791

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DecaturTuscaloosa
Police
$0
$1,260
Fire Protection
$254
$1,043
Highways & Roads
$95
$0
Education
$43
$0
Public Welfare
$1,023
$2,419
Health
$66
$540
Hospitals
$1,729
$0
Parks & Recreation
$2,612
$375
Housing
$2,549
$1,916
Sewerage
$164
$0
Utilities
$3,362
$88
Other
$5,289
$3,252
D
Decatur, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Tuscaloosa, AL
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health

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