Jacksonville, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL spend within 2.5% of each other per resident — $31,456 versus $30,690 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Jacksonville, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 33/100 (grade F) for Tampa, FL — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tampa, FL carries the lighter load at $2,378 per resident versus $2,821 for Jacksonville, FL. 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 Tampa, FL at $7,576.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 14% of total revenue in Jacksonville, FL and 55% in Tampa, FL.
Summary
Jacksonville spends 2.5% more per capita than Tampa ($766/person difference). Jacksonville, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $233 | $1,180 |
| Income Tax | $762 | $2,437 |
| Intergovernmental | $7,348 | $13,224 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,119 | $3,962 |
| Other | $4,705 | $4,657 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $18 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $9,436 | $7,576 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $418 |
| Public Welfare | $486 | $1,507 |
| Health | $332 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $557 | $703 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,329 | $1,723 |
| Housing | $5,572 | $4,778 |
| Sewerage | $176 | $311 |
| Utilities | $1,835 | $4,695 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,942 | $89 |
| Other | $9,771 | $8,890 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.