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

Fresno, CA vs Columbus, OH

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

Summary

Fresno spends 130.1% more per capita than Columbus ($24,529/person difference). Columbus, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
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
Fresno
Columbus
Total Spending
$23.5B
$17.0B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$18,858
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$0
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$0
Total Debt
$0
$1.0B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,145
Population
541,528
902,449
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Columbus$0
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Columbus$1,016
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
Columbus$224
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Columbus$2,168
Education
Fresno$3,942
Columbus$0
Health
Fresno$599
Columbus$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoColumbus
Property Tax
$337
$10
Sales Tax
$19
$234
Income Tax
$501
$1
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$0
Charges & Fees
$11
$2,389
Other
$2,070
$5,248

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoColumbus
Police
$3,261
$0
Fire Protection
$568
$1,016
Highways & Roads
$0
$224
Education
$3,942
$0
Public Welfare
$1,946
$878
Health
$599
$0
Hospitals
$0
$953
Parks & Recreation
$76
$2,168
Housing
$2,856
$4,303
Sewerage
$0
$1
Utilities
$15,340
$1,719
Interest on Debt
$255
$0
Other
$14,545
$7,595
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Columbus, OH
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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