Hampton, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Hampton, VA and Virginia Beach, VA spend within 7.1% of each other per resident — $45,522 versus $42,515 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Hampton, VA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 60/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Hampton, VA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Virginia Beach, VA carries $297 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Hampton, VA at $21,725 per resident and in Virginia Beach, VA at $21,342.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Hampton, VA at 8% of total revenue, whereas Virginia Beach, VA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Hampton spends 7.1% more per capita than Virginia Beach ($3,007/person difference). Hampton, VA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 60/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,697 | $673 |
| Income Tax | $1,516 | $831 |
| Intergovernmental | $1 | $31,808 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,462 |
| Other | $2,522 | $3,301 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,158 | $1,126 |
| Fire Protection | $730 | $512 |
| Highways & Roads | $392 | $0 |
| Education | $21,725 | $21,342 |
| Public Welfare | $249 | $2,071 |
| Health | $252 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $3,201 | $1,036 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,179 | $1,574 |
| Housing | $2,418 | $2,788 |
| Sewerage | $87 | $140 |
| Utilities | $4,239 | $3,523 |
| Other | $7,892 | $7,978 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.