High Point, NC vs Durham, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Durham, NC outspends High Point, NC by a wide margin per resident — $31,264 versus $16,038, a 95% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Durham, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 66/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for High Point, NC — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Durham, NC reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while High Point, NC carries $1,152 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: High Point, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,139 per resident, while Durham, NC leads with education at $17,100.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in High Point, NC and 39% in Durham, NC.
Summary
Durham spends 48.7% more per capita than High Point ($15,226/person difference). Durham, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 66/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $27 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $370 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,303 | $164 |
| Intergovernmental | $26,879 | $6,775 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,954 | $0 |
| Other | $3,948 | $924 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $921 |
| Fire Protection | $74 | $682 |
| Highways & Roads | $180 | $461 |
| Education | $29 | $17,100 |
| Public Welfare | $1,075 | $0 |
| Health | $487 | $517 |
| Hospitals | $1,098 | $159 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,139 | $0 |
| Housing | $3,049 | $1,169 |
| Utilities | $2,301 | $2,350 |
| Interest on Debt | $327 | $32 |
| General Admin | $0 | $43 |
| Other | $6,278 | $7,830 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.