Memphis, TN vs El Paso, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
El Paso, TX and Memphis, TN spend within 9.7% of each other per resident — $24,259 versus $22,111 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Memphis, TN edges El Paso, TX on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
El Paso, TX reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while El Paso, TX leads with police at $1,159.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 10% in El Paso, TX.
Summary
El Paso spends 8.9% more per capita than Memphis ($2,148/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $65 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $12 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $690 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $31 |
| Other | $3,994 | $550 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,159 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $233 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $83 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $299 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $11 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $151 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $958 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $6 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $224 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $40 |
| General Admin | $0 | $17,951 |
| Other | $8,850 | $3,145 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.