Gilbert, AZ vs Tucson, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Tucson, AZ spends 40% more per resident than Gilbert, AZ: $15,759 against $11,239. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Gilbert, AZ edges Tucson, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 60/100 (grade C) to 55/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Tucson, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,540 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 Tucson, AZ at $1,229.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Gilbert, AZ and 100% in Tucson, AZ.
Summary
Tucson spends 28.7% more per capita than Gilbert ($4,520/person difference). Gilbert, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $2 | $5 |
| Sales Tax | $244 | $309 |
| Income Tax | $1,096 | $1,107 |
| Intergovernmental | $35,750 | $23,276 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,411 | $4,534 |
| Other | $1,553 | $952 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $39 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $133 | $330 |
| Highways & Roads | $191 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $955 | $1,181 |
| Health | $142 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $29 | $1,314 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,066 | $1,229 |
| Housing | $2,707 | $3,091 |
| Sewerage | $208 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,287 | $3,555 |
| Interest on Debt | $25 | $1,735 |
| Other | $3,455 | $3,322 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.