Jacksonville, FL vs Orlando, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jacksonville, FL and Orlando, FL spend within 1.1% of each other per resident — $31,456 versus $31,123 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Orlando, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 73/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for Jacksonville, FL — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Orlando, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Jacksonville, FL carries $2,821 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Jacksonville, FL at $9,436 per resident and in Orlando, FL at $5,632.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Jacksonville, FL at 14% of total revenue, whereas Orlando, FL relies most on other revenue at 22%.
Summary
Jacksonville spends 1.1% more per capita than Orlando ($333/person difference). Orlando, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 73/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $233 | $2,492 |
| Income Tax | $762 | $1,219 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,348 | $432 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,119 | $0 |
| Other | $4,705 | $6,520 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $18 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $9,436 | $5,632 |
| Public Welfare | $486 | $628 |
| Health | $332 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $557 | $775 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,329 | $4,107 |
| Housing | $5,572 | $5,645 |
| Sewerage | $176 | $585 |
| Utilities | $1,835 | $1,262 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,942 | $0 |
| Other | $9,771 | $12,489 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.