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

Fresno, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Summary

Fresno spends 174.7% more per capita than Phoenix ($27,594/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).

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
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fresno
Phoenix
Total Spending
$23.5B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$15,793
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$50,709
Total Debt
$0
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,156
Population
541,528
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Phoenix$0
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Phoenix$652
Education
Fresno$3,942
Phoenix$214
Health
Fresno$599
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoPhoenix
Property Tax
$337
$7
Sales Tax
$19
$338
Income Tax
$501
$1,260
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$50,709
Charges & Fees
$11
$2,998
Other
$2,070
$2,038

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoPhoenix
Police
$3,261
$0
Fire Protection
$568
$170
Highways & Roads
$0
$86
Education
$3,942
$214
Public Welfare
$1,946
$507
Health
$599
$258
Hospitals
$0
$1,521
Parks & Recreation
$76
$652
Housing
$2,856
$3,879
Sewerage
$0
$388
Utilities
$15,340
$2,480
Interest on Debt
$255
$1,760
Other
$14,545
$3,878
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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