Memphis, TN vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA spends 15% more per resident than Memphis, TN: $25,457 against $22,111. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 per resident. 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 Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 6% in Atlanta, GA.
Summary
Atlanta spends 13.1% more per capita than Memphis ($3,346/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $5,645 |
| Other | $3,994 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $513 |
| Education | $0 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $1,587 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $343 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $8,026 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.