Knoxville, TN vs Jackson, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Knoxville, TN outspends Jackson, TN by a wide margin per resident — $17,926 versus $3,221, a 457% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Jackson, TN edges Knoxville, TN on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 57/100 (grade C) to 51/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Jackson, TN reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Knoxville, TN carries $1,825 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Knoxville, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,708 per resident, while Jackson, TN leads with education at $2,554.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Knoxville, TN and 100% in Jackson, TN.
Summary
Knoxville spends 456.6% more per capita than Jackson ($14,706/person difference). Jackson, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $748 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $115 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $48,542 | $280 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,851 | $0 |
| Other | $6,214 | $0 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $235 |
| Fire Protection | $258 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $20 |
| Education | $0 | $2,554 |
| Public Welfare | $573 | $0 |
| Health | $0 | $10 |
| Hospitals | $607 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,708 | $0 |
| Housing | $3,667 | $198 |
| Sewerage | $224 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,554 | $112 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,080 | $0 |
| Other | $7,255 | $90 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.