Houston, TX vs Mesa, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Houston, TX and Mesa, AZ spend within 12.8% of each other per resident — $14,400 versus $12,768 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Mesa, AZ edges Houston, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 90/100 (grade A) to 83/100 (grade A). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Mesa, AZ carries the lighter load at $469 per resident versus $863 for Houston, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Houston, TX at $361 per resident and in Mesa, AZ at $953.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Houston, TX at 7% of total revenue, whereas Mesa, AZ relies most on charges and fees at 9%.
Summary
Houston spends 12.8% more per capita than Mesa ($1,632/person difference). Mesa, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $47 |
| Sales Tax | $181 | $463 |
| Income Tax | $39 | $1,376 |
| Intergovernmental | $33 | $1,383 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,475 | $3,334 |
| Other | $3,960 | $2,253 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $295 | $422 |
| Highways & Roads | $175 | $192 |
| Public Welfare | $533 | $829 |
| Health | $210 | $147 |
| Hospitals | $511 | $537 |
| Parks & Recreation | $361 | $953 |
| Housing | $4,288 | $4,190 |
| Sewerage | $386 | $38 |
| Utilities | $1,339 | $2,376 |
| Other | $6,301 | $3,082 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.