Houston, TX vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ and Houston, TX spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $15,793 versus $14,400 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Houston, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Houston, TX carries the lighter load at $863 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. 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 Phoenix, AZ at $652.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Houston, TX at 7% of total revenue, whereas Phoenix, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Phoenix spends 8.8% more per capita than Houston ($1,393/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $181 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $39 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $33 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,475 | $2,998 |
| Other | $3,960 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $295 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $175 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $533 | $507 |
| Health | $210 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $511 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $361 | $652 |
| Housing | $4,288 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $386 | $388 |
| Utilities | $1,339 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $6,301 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.