El Paso, TX vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
El Paso, TX and Austin, TX spend within 11.4% of each other per resident — $24,259 versus $21,772 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Austin, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 61/100 (grade C) for El Paso, TX — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
El Paso, TX reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Austin, TX carries $1,229 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: El Paso, TX leads with police at $1,159 per resident, while Austin, TX leads with parks and recreation at $1,801.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 10% of total revenue in El Paso, TX and 18% in Austin, TX.
Summary
El Paso spends 11.4% more per capita than Austin ($2,487/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $65 | $526 |
| Income Tax | $12 | $1,465 |
| Intergovernmental | $690 | $14,031 |
| Charges & Fees | $31 | $3,247 |
| Other | $550 | $5,645 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,159 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $233 | $634 |
| Highways & Roads | $83 | $0 |
| Education | $0 | $51 |
| Public Welfare | $299 | $1,837 |
| Health | $0 | $517 |
| Hospitals | $11 | $664 |
| Parks & Recreation | $151 | $1,801 |
| Housing | $958 | $3,741 |
| Sewerage | $6 | $865 |
| Utilities | $224 | $3,264 |
| Interest on Debt | $40 | $0 |
| General Admin | $17,951 | $0 |
| Other | $3,145 | $8,399 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.