Jackson, TN vs Johnson City, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Johnson City, TN outspends Jackson, TN by a wide margin per resident — $29,659 versus $3,221, a 821% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Jackson, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 57/100 (grade C) against 23/100 (grade F) for Johnson City, TN — a 34-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Jackson, TN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Johnson City, TN carries $1,609 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: education leads in Jackson, TN at $2,554 per resident and in Johnson City, TN at $14,043.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Jackson, TN and 100% in Johnson City, TN.
Summary
Johnson City spends 89.1% more per capita than Jackson ($26,438/person difference). Jackson, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $0 | $228 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $2,303 |
| Intergovernmental | $280 | $21,169 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $3,131 |
| Other | $0 | $3,770 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $235 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $0 | $304 |
| Highways & Roads | $20 | $192 |
| Education | $2,554 | $14,043 |
| Public Welfare | $0 | $2,007 |
| Health | $10 | $322 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $92 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $1,227 |
| Housing | $198 | $2,442 |
| Utilities | $112 | $3,744 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $628 |
| Other | $90 | $4,657 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.