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

Fayetteville, NC vs High Point, NC

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

High Point, NC and Fayetteville, NC spend within 14.2% of each other per resident — $16,038 versus $14,049 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Fayetteville, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 70/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for High Point, NC — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, High Point, NC carries the lighter load at $1,152 per resident versus $1,749 for Fayetteville, NC. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Fayetteville, NC at $1,062 per resident and in High Point, NC at $1,139.

They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Fayetteville, NC at 9% of total revenue, whereas High Point, NC relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.

Summary

High Point spends 12.4% more per capita than Fayetteville ($1,989/person difference). Fayetteville, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 70/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fayetteville, NC
Pop. 208,697
B
70/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency97
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
High Point, NC
Pop. 114,120
C
51/100
Budget Balance63
Debt Burden12
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency85
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fayetteville
High Point
Total Spending
$2.9B
$1.8B
Spending / Capita
$14,049
$16,038
Total Revenue
$8.5B
$3.1B
Revenue / Capita
$40,860
$26,879
Total Debt
$365.1M
$131.4M
Debt / Capita
$1,749
$1,152
Population
208,697
114,120
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Fayetteville$196
High Point$74
Highways & Roads
Fayetteville$0
High Point$180
Parks & Recreation
Fayetteville$1,062
High Point$1,139
Education
Fayetteville$0
High Point$29
Health
Fayetteville$0
High Point$487

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FayettevilleHigh Point
Property Tax
$0
$27
Sales Tax
$124
$370
Income Tax
$717
$1,303
Intergovernmental
$1,555
$26,879
Charges & Fees
$3,488
$1,954
Other
$3,474
$3,948

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FayettevilleHigh Point
Fire Protection
$196
$74
Highways & Roads
$0
$180
Education
$0
$29
Public Welfare
$378
$1,075
Health
$0
$487
Hospitals
$319
$1,098
Parks & Recreation
$1,062
$1,139
Housing
$2,914
$3,049
Utilities
$3,100
$2,301
Interest on Debt
$628
$327
Other
$5,454
$6,278
B
Fayetteville, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health
C
High Point, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.