Huntsville, AL vs Decatur, AL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Decatur, AL and Huntsville, AL spend within 7.2% of each other per resident — $17,185 versus $16,033 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Huntsville, AL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 58/100 (grade C) against 46/100 (grade D) for Decatur, AL — a 12-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Huntsville, AL carries the lighter load at $1,279 per resident versus $1,290 for Decatur, AL. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Huntsville, AL at $1,600 per resident and in Decatur, AL at $2,612.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 10% of total revenue in Huntsville, AL and 100% in Decatur, AL.
Summary
Decatur spends 6.7% more per capita than Huntsville ($1,153/person difference). Huntsville, AL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 58/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $855 |
| Sales Tax | $833 | $975 |
| Income Tax | $656 | $1,360 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,511 | $37,427 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,558 | $2,804 |
| Other | $2,647 | $4,387 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $637 | $254 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $95 |
| Education | $60 | $43 |
| Public Welfare | $708 | $1,023 |
| Health | $354 | $66 |
| Hospitals | $692 | $1,729 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,600 | $2,612 |
| Housing | $2,611 | $2,549 |
| Sewerage | $136 | $164 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $3,362 |
| Other | $6,253 | $5,289 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.