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

Houston, TX vs Baltimore, MD

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

Summary

Baltimore spends 78.8% more per capita than Houston ($53,535/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Houston, TX
Pop. 2,296,253
A
83/100
Budget Balance94
Debt Burden72
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Baltimore, MD
Pop. 584,548
B
70/100
Budget Balance79
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Houston
Baltimore
Total Spending
$33.1B
$39.7B
Spending / Capita
$14,400
$67,935
Total Revenue
$127.7B
$41.3B
Revenue / Capita
$55,600
$70,679
Total Debt
$2.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$863
$0
Population
2,296,253
584,548
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Houston$0
Baltimore$820
Fire Protection
Houston$295
Baltimore$1,214
Highways & Roads
Houston$175
Baltimore$676
Parks & Recreation
Houston$361
Baltimore$384
Education
Houston$0
Baltimore$35,510
Health
Houston$210
Baltimore$757

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

HoustonBaltimore
Property Tax
$0
$84
Sales Tax
$181
$55
Income Tax
$39
$375
Intergovernmental
$33
$5,085
Charges & Fees
$3,475
$2,192
Other
$3,960
$4,765

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

HoustonBaltimore
Police
$0
$820
Fire Protection
$295
$1,214
Highways & Roads
$175
$676
Education
$0
$35,510
Public Welfare
$533
$714
Health
$210
$757
Hospitals
$511
$1,877
Parks & Recreation
$361
$384
Housing
$4,288
$4,087
Sewerage
$386
$87
Utilities
$1,339
$3,809
General Admin
$0
$19
Other
$6,301
$17,981
A
Houston, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Baltimore, MD
Fiscal Health Score: 70/100
Good fiscal health

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