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

Glendale, AZ vs Mesa, AZ

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

Summary

Glendale spends 43.8% more per capita than Mesa ($5,588/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Glendale, AZ
Pop. 248,083
A
80/100
Budget Balance75
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency71
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Mesa, AZ
Pop. 503,390
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Glendale
Mesa
Total Spending
$4.6B
$6.4B
Spending / Capita
$18,356
$12,768
Total Revenue
$9.6B
$18.0B
Revenue / Capita
$38,513
$35,688
Total Debt
$56.2M
$236.3M
Debt / Capita
$227
$469
Population
248,083
503,390
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Glendale$377
Mesa$422
Highways & Roads
Glendale$280
Mesa$192
Parks & Recreation
Glendale$1,295
Mesa$953
Education
Glendale$13
Mesa$0
Health
Glendale$266
Mesa$147

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

GlendaleMesa
Property Tax
$0
$47
Sales Tax
$269
$463
Income Tax
$520
$1,376
Intergovernmental
$7
$1,383
Charges & Fees
$2,381
$3,334
Other
$2,772
$2,253

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

GlendaleMesa
Fire Protection
$377
$422
Highways & Roads
$280
$192
Education
$13
$0
Public Welfare
$1,522
$829
Health
$266
$147
Hospitals
$1,555
$537
Parks & Recreation
$1,295
$953
Housing
$5,079
$4,190
Sewerage
$193
$38
Utilities
$3,088
$2,376
Interest on Debt
$980
$0
Other
$3,709
$3,082
A
Glendale, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 80/100
Excellent fiscal health
A
Mesa, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health

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