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

Fresno, CA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 49.2% more per capita than Fresno ($42,045/person difference). Fresno, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 50/100).

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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fresno
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$23.5B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$85,432
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$17,595
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
541,528
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Fresno$3,942
Los Angeles$829
Health
Fresno$599
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoLos Angeles
Property Tax
$337
$64
Sales Tax
$19
$77
Income Tax
$501
$307
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$134
Charges & Fees
$11
$459
Other
$2,070
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoLos Angeles
Police
$3,261
$4,111
Fire Protection
$568
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$0
$503
Education
$3,942
$829
Public Welfare
$1,946
$1,286
Health
$599
$409
Hospitals
$0
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$76
$1,347
Housing
$2,856
$6,325
Sewerage
$0
$34
Utilities
$15,340
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$255
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$14,545
$33,189
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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