Memphis, TN vs Bakersfield, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Bakersfield, CA by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $11,576, a 91% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 56/100 (grade C) for Bakersfield, CA — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Bakersfield, CA 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 Bakersfield, CA at $741.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 100% in Bakersfield, CA.
Summary
Memphis spends 91.0% more per capita than Bakersfield ($10,535/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $20 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $1,909 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $3,862 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $1,024 |
| Other | $3,994 | $1,915 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $840 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $425 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $741 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $3,391 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $265 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $2,679 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $3,234 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.