Memphis, TN vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN spends 17% more per resident than Columbus, OH: $22,111 against $18,858. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. 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 Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Memphis spends 17.2% more per capita than Columbus ($3,253/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 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $2,389 |
| Other | $3,994 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $878 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $1 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $1,719 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.