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

Gilbert, AZ vs Chandler, AZ

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Chandler, AZ spends 32% more per resident than Gilbert, AZ: $14,811 against $11,239. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.

Gilbert, AZ edges Chandler, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 60/100 (grade C) to 59/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Chandler, AZ carries the lighter load at $10 per resident versus $1,867 for Gilbert, AZ. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Gilbert, AZ at $1,066 per resident and in Chandler, AZ at $899.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Gilbert, AZ and 100% in Chandler, AZ.

Summary

Chandler spends 24.1% more per capita than Gilbert ($3,571/person difference). Gilbert, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Gilbert, AZ
Pop. 267,267
C
60/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Chandler, AZ
Pop. 275,618
C
59/100
Budget Balance15
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Gilbert
Chandler
Total Spending
$3.0B
$4.1B
Spending / Capita
$11,239
$14,811
Total Revenue
$9.6B
$2.8B
Revenue / Capita
$35,750
$10,136
Total Debt
$499.0M
$2.9M
Debt / Capita
$1,867
$10
Population
267,267
275,618
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Gilbert$39
Chandler$0
Fire Protection
Gilbert$133
Chandler$260
Highways & Roads
Gilbert$191
Chandler$306
Parks & Recreation
Gilbert$1,066
Chandler$899
Health
Gilbert$142
Chandler$243

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

GilbertChandler
Property Tax
$2
$0
Sales Tax
$244
$90
Income Tax
$1,096
$669
Intergovernmental
$35,750
$10,136
Charges & Fees
$2,411
$1,938
Other
$1,553
$3,477

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

GilbertChandler
Police
$39
$0
Fire Protection
$133
$260
Highways & Roads
$191
$306
Public Welfare
$955
$670
Health
$142
$243
Hospitals
$29
$374
Parks & Recreation
$1,066
$899
Housing
$2,707
$3,286
Sewerage
$208
$0
Utilities
$2,287
$2,461
Interest on Debt
$25
$88
Other
$3,455
$6,223
C
Gilbert, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 60/100
Average fiscal health
C
Chandler, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.