Gilbert, AZ vs Glendale, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Glendale, AZ outspends Gilbert, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $18,356 versus $11,239, a 63% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Glendale, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 60/100 (grade C) for Gilbert, AZ — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Glendale, AZ carries the lighter load at $227 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 Glendale, AZ at $1,295.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Gilbert, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Glendale, AZ relies most on other revenue at 7%.
Summary
Glendale spends 38.8% more per capita than Gilbert ($7,117/person difference). Glendale, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $2 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $244 | $269 |
| Income Tax | $1,096 | $520 |
| Intergovernmental | $35,750 | $7 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,411 | $2,381 |
| Other | $1,553 | $2,772 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $39 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $133 | $377 |
| Highways & Roads | $191 | $280 |
| Education | $0 | $13 |
| Public Welfare | $955 | $1,522 |
| Health | $142 | $266 |
| Hospitals | $29 | $1,555 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,066 | $1,295 |
| Housing | $2,707 | $5,079 |
| Sewerage | $208 | $193 |
| Utilities | $2,287 | $3,088 |
| Interest on Debt | $25 | $980 |
| Other | $3,455 | $3,709 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.