Gilbert, AZ vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ spends 41% more per resident than Gilbert, AZ: $15,793 against $11,239. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Phoenix, AZ edges Gilbert, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 60/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 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 Phoenix, AZ at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Gilbert, AZ and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Phoenix spends 28.8% more per capita than Gilbert ($4,553/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $2 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $244 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $1,096 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $35,750 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,411 | $2,998 |
| Other | $1,553 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $39 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $133 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $191 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $955 | $507 |
| Health | $142 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $29 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,066 | $652 |
| Housing | $2,707 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $208 | $388 |
| Utilities | $2,287 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $25 | $1,760 |
| Other | $3,455 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.