Glendale, AZ vs Gilbert, 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 Glendale, AZ at $1,295 per resident and in Gilbert, AZ at $1,066.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Glendale, AZ at 7% of total revenue, whereas Gilbert, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Glendale spends 63.3% 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 | $0 | $2 |
| Sales Tax | $269 | $244 |
| Income Tax | $520 | $1,096 |
| Intergovernmental | $7 | $35,750 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,381 | $2,411 |
| Other | $2,772 | $1,553 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $39 |
| Fire Protection | $377 | $133 |
| Highways & Roads | $280 | $191 |
| Education | $13 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,522 | $955 |
| Health | $266 | $142 |
| Hospitals | $1,555 | $29 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,295 | $1,066 |
| Housing | $5,079 | $2,707 |
| Sewerage | $193 | $208 |
| Utilities | $3,088 | $2,287 |
| Interest on Debt | $980 | $25 |
| Other | $3,709 | $3,455 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.