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

Fort Worth, TX vs Columbus, OH

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Columbus, OH spends 18% more per resident than Fort Worth, TX: $18,858 against $15,939. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.

Fort Worth, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 11-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $1,921 for Fort Worth, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Fort Worth, TX at $708 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.

Summary

Columbus spends 15.5% more per capita than Fort Worth ($2,919/person difference). Fort Worth, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fort Worth, TX
Pop. 924,663
C
63/100
Budget Balance73
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Columbus, OH
Pop. 902,449
C
52/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden46
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency94
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fort Worth
Columbus
Total Spending
$14.7B
$17.0B
Spending / Capita
$15,939
$18,858
Total Revenue
$24.7B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$26,694
$0
Total Debt
$1.8B
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$1,921
$1,145
Population
924,663
902,449
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Fort Worth$156
Columbus$1,016
Highways & Roads
Fort Worth$317
Columbus$224
Parks & Recreation
Fort Worth$708
Columbus$2,168
Health
Fort Worth$235
Columbus$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Fort WorthColumbus
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$198
$234
Income Tax
$851
$1
Intergovernmental
$4,002
$0
Charges & Fees
$3,594
$2,389
Other
$3,439
$5,248

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Fort WorthColumbus
Fire Protection
$156
$1,016
Highways & Roads
$317
$224
Public Welfare
$869
$878
Health
$235
$0
Hospitals
$1,680
$953
Parks & Recreation
$708
$2,168
Housing
$4,217
$4,303
Sewerage
$267
$1
Utilities
$2,674
$1,719
Other
$4,817
$7,595
C
Fort Worth, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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