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

Los Angeles, CA vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 286.4% more per capita than Memphis ($63,322/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

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
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Memphis
Total Spending
$331.6B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$22,111
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
3,881,041
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Memphis$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Memphis$1,397
Education
Los Angeles$829
Memphis$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesMemphis
Property Tax
$64
$10
Sales Tax
$77
$496
Income Tax
$307
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$134
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$459
$2,077
Other
$9,048
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesMemphis
Police
$4,111
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$469
Highways & Roads
$503
$277
Education
$829
$0
Public Welfare
$1,286
$630
Health
$409
$391
Hospitals
$2,135
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$1,397
Housing
$6,325
$4,683
Sewerage
$34
$0
Utilities
$21,992
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$630
$1,158
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$8,850
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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