Durham, NC vs High Point, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Durham, NC outspends High Point, NC by a wide margin per resident — $31,264 versus $16,038, a 95% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Durham, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 66/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for High Point, NC — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Durham, NC reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while High Point, NC carries $1,152 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Durham, NC leads with education at $17,100 per resident, while High Point, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,139.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 39% of total revenue in Durham, NC and 100% in High Point, NC.
Summary
Durham spends 94.9% more per capita than High Point ($15,226/person difference). Durham, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 66/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $27 |
| Sales Tax | $0 | $370 |
| Income Tax | $164 | $1,303 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,775 | $26,879 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,954 |
| Other | $924 | $3,948 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $921 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $682 | $74 |
| Highways & Roads | $461 | $180 |
| Education | $17,100 | $29 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $1,075 |
| Health | $517 | $487 |
| Hospitals | $159 | $1,098 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $1,139 |
| Housing | $1,169 | $3,049 |
| Utilities | $2,350 | $2,301 |
| Interest on Debt | $32 | $327 |
| General Admin | $43 | $0 |
| Other | $7,830 | $6,278 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.