Frederick, MD vs Gaithersburg, MD
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Frederick, MD outspends Gaithersburg, MD by a wide margin per resident — $160,619 versus $9,479, a 1595% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Frederick, MD holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 55/100 (grade C) for Gaithersburg, MD — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Frederick, MD leads with education at $97,323 per resident, while Gaithersburg, MD leads with parks and recreation at $1,507.
Summary
Frederick spends 1594.5% more per capita than Gaithersburg ($151,140/person difference). Frederick, MD has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $304 | $530 |
| Income Tax | $3,688 | $266 |
| Intergovernmental | $16,425 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,352 | $0 |
| Other | $10,900 | $864 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,597 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $3,051 | $647 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,430 | $280 |
| Education | $97,323 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $2,207 | $932 |
| Hospitals | $2,058 | $452 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,503 | $1,507 |
| Housing | $5,157 | $1,611 |
| Sewerage | $249 | $254 |
| Utilities | $6,503 | $541 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,189 | $263 |
| General Admin | $484 | $0 |
| Other | $36,868 | $2,991 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.