El Paso, TX vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
El Paso, TX and Memphis, TN spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $24,259 versus $22,111 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Memphis, TN edges El Paso, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
El Paso, TX reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 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 Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 10% of total revenue in El Paso, TX and 100% in Memphis, TN.
Summary
El Paso spends 9.7% more per capita than Memphis ($2,148/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $65 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $12 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $690 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $31 | $2,077 |
| Other | $550 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,159 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $233 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $83 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $299 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $11 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $151 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $958 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $6 | $0 |
| Utilities | $224 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $40 | $1,158 |
| General Admin | $17,951 | $0 |
| Other | $3,145 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.