Hamilton, OH vs Dayton, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hamilton, OH outspends Dayton, OH by a wide margin per resident — $116,276 versus $16,978, a 585% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Hamilton, OH holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Dayton, OH — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Hamilton, OH reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Dayton, OH carries $16 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Hamilton, OH at $2,102 per resident and in Dayton, OH at $855.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Hamilton, OH at 100% of total revenue, whereas Dayton, OH relies most on other revenue at 52%.
Summary
Hamilton spends 584.9% more per capita than Dayton ($99,298/person difference). Hamilton, OH has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $604 | $30 |
| Sales Tax | $3,499 | $210 |
| Intergovernmental | $204,195 | $2,236 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,744 |
| Other | $71,987 | $5,977 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,102 | $855 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $3,373 | $2,147 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,125 | $232 |
| Housing | $15,570 | $4,133 |
| Utilities | $50,129 | $2,873 |
| Other | $43,891 | $6,059 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.