Memphis, TN vs Arlington, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Arlington, TX by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $11,769, a 88% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Arlington, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 83/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $594 for Arlington, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Memphis, TN at $1,397 per resident and in Arlington, TX at $1,352.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 41% in Arlington, TX.
Summary
Memphis spends 87.9% more per capita than Arlington ($10,342/person difference). Arlington, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $507 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $73 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $25,062 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $2,949 |
| Other | $3,994 | $3,897 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $160 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $149 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $826 |
| Health | $391 | $219 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $152 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,352 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,981 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $141 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $1,385 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $4,404 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.