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

Kansas City, MO vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

Kansas City spends 3.2% more per capita than Memphis ($709/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Kansas City, MO
Pop. 505,958
C
52/100
Budget Balance1
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency76
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Kansas City
Memphis
Total Spending
$11.5B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$22,820
$22,111
Total Revenue
$675.4M
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$1,335
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
505,958
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Kansas City$119
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Kansas City$0
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Kansas City$1,309
Memphis$1,397
Health
Kansas City$0
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Kansas CityMemphis
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$623
$496
Income Tax
$0
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$7
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$3,794
$2,077
Other
$11,150
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Kansas CityMemphis
Fire Protection
$119
$469
Highways & Roads
$0
$277
Public Welfare
$3,018
$630
Health
$0
$391
Hospitals
$1,849
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$1,309
$1,397
Housing
$4,681
$4,683
Utilities
$3,123
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
Other
$8,721
$8,850
C
Kansas City, MO
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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