Fort Worth, TX vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Fort Worth, TX spend within 6.3% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,939 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX edges Fort Worth, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Fort Worth, TX carries the lighter load at $1,921 per resident versus $2,131 for San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 15% of total revenue in Fort Worth, TX and 17% in San Antonio, TX.
Summary
San Antonio spends 5.9% more per capita than Fort Worth ($1,003/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $198 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $851 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,002 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,594 | $4,025 |
| Other | $3,439 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $156 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $317 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $869 | $1,188 |
| Health | $235 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $1,680 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $708 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $4,217 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $267 | $100 |
| Utilities | $2,674 | $3,826 |
| Other | $4,817 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.