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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Johnson City, TN vs Jackson, TN

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

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 Johnson City, TN at $14,043 per resident and in Jackson, TN at $2,554.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Johnson City, TN and 100% in Jackson, TN.

Summary

Johnson City spends 820.9% more per capita than Jackson ($26,438/person difference). Jackson, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Johnson City, TN
Pop. 70,720
F
23/100
Budget Balance10
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Jackson, TN
Pop. 67,993
C
57/100
Budget Balance7
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Johnson City
Jackson
Total Spending
$2.1B
$219.0M
Spending / Capita
$29,659
$3,221
Total Revenue
$1.5B
$19.1M
Revenue / Capita
$21,169
$280
Total Debt
$113.8M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,609
$0
Population
70,720
67,993
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Johnson City$0
Jackson$235
Fire Protection
Johnson City$304
Jackson$0
Highways & Roads
Johnson City$192
Jackson$20
Parks & Recreation
Johnson City$1,227
Jackson$0
Education
Johnson City$14,043
Jackson$2,554
Health
Johnson City$322
Jackson$10

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Johnson CityJackson
Sales Tax
$228
$0
Income Tax
$2,303
$0
Intergovernmental
$21,169
$280
Charges & Fees
$3,131
$0
Other
$3,770
$0

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Johnson CityJackson
Police
$0
$235
Fire Protection
$304
$0
Highways & Roads
$192
$20
Education
$14,043
$2,554
Public Welfare
$2,007
$0
Health
$322
$10
Hospitals
$92
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,227
$0
Housing
$2,442
$198
Utilities
$3,744
$112
Interest on Debt
$628
$0
Other
$4,657
$90
F
Johnson City, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 23/100
Critical fiscal distress
C
Jackson, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.