Johnson City, TN vs Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN outspends Johnson City, TN by a wide margin per resident — $48,948 versus $29,659, a 65% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 47/100 (grade D) against 23/100 (grade F) for Johnson City, TN — a 24-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Johnson City, TN carries the lighter load at $1,609 per resident versus $2,292 for Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN. 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 Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN at $21,061.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Johnson City, TN and 10% in Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN.
Summary
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) spends 39.4% more per capita than Johnson City ($19,289/person difference). Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $228 | $373 |
| Income Tax | $2,303 | $135 |
| Intergovernmental | $21,169 | $13,787 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,131 | $2,444 |
| Other | $3,770 | $4,617 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,519 |
| Fire Protection | $304 | $468 |
| Highways & Roads | $192 | $11 |
| Education | $14,043 | $21,061 |
| Public Welfare | $2,007 | $738 |
| Health | $322 | $672 |
| Hospitals | $92 | $2,100 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,227 | $1,015 |
| Housing | $2,442 | $4,231 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $217 |
| Utilities | $3,744 | $3,140 |
| Interest on Debt | $628 | $1,667 |
| General Admin | $0 | $2,081 |
| Other | $4,657 | $10,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.