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

Los Angeles, CA vs Houston, TX

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 493.3% more per capita than Houston ($71,033/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50
City B
Houston, TX
Pop. 2,296,253
A
83/100
Budget Balance94
Debt Burden72
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Houston
Total Spending
$331.6B
$33.1B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$14,400
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$127.7B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$55,600
Total Debt
$0
$2.0B
Debt / Capita
$0
$863
Population
3,881,041
2,296,253
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Houston$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Houston$295
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Houston$175
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Houston$361
Education
Los Angeles$829
Houston$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
Houston$210

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesHouston
Property Tax
$64
$0
Sales Tax
$77
$181
Income Tax
$307
$39
Intergovernmental
$134
$33
Charges & Fees
$459
$3,475
Other
$9,048
$3,960

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesHouston
Police
$4,111
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$295
Highways & Roads
$503
$175
Education
$829
$0
Public Welfare
$1,286
$533
Health
$409
$210
Hospitals
$2,135
$511
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$361
Housing
$6,325
$4,288
Sewerage
$34
$386
Utilities
$21,992
$1,339
Interest on Debt
$630
$0
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$6,301
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
A
Houston, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health

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