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

Durham, NC vs Fayetteville, NC

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

Summary

Durham spends 122.5% more per capita than Fayetteville ($17,215/person difference). Fayetteville, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Durham, NC
Pop. 284,094
B
66/100
Budget Balance43
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency37
Revenue Diversity95
Trend Direction50
City B
Fayetteville, NC
Pop. 208,697
B
70/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency97
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Durham
Fayetteville
Total Spending
$8.9B
$2.9B
Spending / Capita
$31,264
$14,049
Total Revenue
$4.9B
$8.5B
Revenue / Capita
$17,235
$40,860
Total Debt
$0
$365.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,749
Population
284,094
208,697
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Durham$921
Fayetteville$0
Fire Protection
Durham$682
Fayetteville$196
Highways & Roads
Durham$461
Fayetteville$0
Parks & Recreation
Durham$0
Fayetteville$1,062
Education
Durham$17,100
Fayetteville$0
Health
Durham$517
Fayetteville$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DurhamFayetteville
Sales Tax
$0
$124
Income Tax
$164
$717
Intergovernmental
$6,775
$1,555
Charges & Fees
$0
$3,488
Other
$924
$3,474

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DurhamFayetteville
Police
$921
$0
Fire Protection
$682
$196
Highways & Roads
$461
$0
Education
$17,100
$0
Public Welfare
$0
$378
Health
$517
$0
Hospitals
$159
$319
Parks & Recreation
$0
$1,062
Housing
$1,169
$2,914
Utilities
$2,350
$3,100
Interest on Debt
$32
$628
General Admin
$43
$0
Other
$7,830
$5,454
B
Durham, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 66/100
Good fiscal health
B
Fayetteville, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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