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

Fresno, CA vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Fresno spends 25.9% more per capita than Seattle ($8,925/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Fresno
Seattle
Total Spending
$23.5B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$34,463
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
541,528
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
Seattle$210
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
Seattle$3,923
Education
Fresno$3,942
Seattle$1,461
Health
Fresno$599
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoSeattle
Property Tax
$337
$1,831
Sales Tax
$19
$1,094
Income Tax
$501
$3,496
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$11
$3,960
Other
$2,070
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoSeattle
Police
$3,261
$0
Fire Protection
$568
$210
Education
$3,942
$1,461
Public Welfare
$1,946
$3,439
Health
$599
$1,131
Hospitals
$0
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$76
$3,923
Housing
$2,856
$3,727
Sewerage
$0
$952
Utilities
$15,340
$6,489
Interest on Debt
$255
$0
Other
$14,545
$11,260
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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