Hampton, VA vs Portsmouth, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Portsmouth, VA and Hampton, VA spend within 2.6% of each other per resident — $46,704 versus $45,522 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Portsmouth, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 60/100 (grade C) for Hampton, VA — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Hampton, VA at $21,725 per resident and in Portsmouth, VA at $20,569.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 8% of total revenue in Hampton, VA and 4% in Portsmouth, VA.
Summary
Portsmouth spends 2.5% more per capita than Hampton ($1,182/person difference). Portsmouth, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,697 | $291 |
| Income Tax | $1,516 | $2,119 |
| Intergovernmental | $1 | $12 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,606 |
| Other | $2,522 | $2,972 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,158 | $1,848 |
| Fire Protection | $730 | $450 |
| Highways & Roads | $392 | $954 |
| Education | $21,725 | $20,569 |
| Public Welfare | $249 | $1,406 |
| Health | $252 | $270 |
| Hospitals | $3,201 | $3,784 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,179 | $1,573 |
| Housing | $2,418 | $3,282 |
| Sewerage | $87 | $298 |
| Utilities | $4,239 | $4,446 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $63 |
| Other | $7,892 | $7,760 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.