Jonesboro, AR vs Little Rock, AR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Little Rock, AR outspends Jonesboro, AR by a wide margin per resident — $17,625 versus $9,056, a 95% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Little Rock, AR holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 39/100 (grade D) for Jonesboro, AR — a 48-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Little Rock, AR reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Jonesboro, AR carries $2,919 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Jonesboro, AR at $523 per resident and in Little Rock, AR at $2,054.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 145% of total revenue in Jonesboro, AR and 25% in Little Rock, AR.
Summary
Little Rock spends 48.6% more per capita than Jonesboro ($8,569/person difference). Little Rock, AR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $25 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $97 | $1,239 |
| Income Tax | $12 | $1,234 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,523 | $5,965 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,640 | $0 |
| Other | $1,377 | $5,700 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $80 | $521 |
| Highways & Roads | $121 | $55 |
| Education | $42 | $39 |
| Public Welfare | $632 | $986 |
| Hospitals | $108 | $427 |
| Parks & Recreation | $523 | $2,054 |
| Housing | $2,058 | $3,902 |
| Sewerage | $122 | $82 |
| Utilities | $1,520 | $1,001 |
| Interest on Debt | $191 | $0 |
| Other | $3,659 | $8,558 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.